|  |  |  | | | | | Gamezone: Game Reviews and More! | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The website Skatertg has a nifty promotion going on right now. Simply visit the website and claim your free Microsoft Points (160 per code). It sounds like one of those spam-hack links, but the codes work and you can refresh to claim more. Plus, each code seems to be unique, so you don’t have to worry about someone else stealing yours. Now, after all these years, I can finally afford Horse Armor in Oblivion! Thanks skatertg, whoever/whatever you are. [Editor’s Note: GameZone has reached out to Microsoft just to make sure everything is kosher. We’ll let you know what they say.]  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The website Skatertg has a nifty promotion going on right now. Simply visit the website and claim your free Microsoft Points (160 per code). It sounds like one of those spam-hack links, but the codes work and you can refresh to claim more. Plus, each code seems to be unique, so you don’t have to worry about someone else stealing yours. Now, after all these years, I can finally afford Horse Armor in Oblivion! Thanks skatertg, whoever/whatever you are. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The survivors drifted at sea and a tanker ship seems deserted. But it’s filled with infected. The survivors must try to restart the tanker ship motor, if they want to join the oil platform where a helicopter was heading.  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Crashing into the middle of an infected zone, survivors of an airliner crash must now fight their way to safety.  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Survive hordes of zombies in this medieval survival map based on the mountain valley in Lord of the Rings!  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In an attempt to promote the upcoming March 15 launch of Homefront, THQ decided to pull a stunt, releasing 10,000 red balloons into the skies of San Francisco. The stunt was a part of a fake protest against the game’s scripted North Korean government. Unfortunately, it didn’t go exactly as planned, because the gloomy, wet weather of San Francisco sent the balloons right down into the San Francisco Bay. Naturally, residents of the city and environmentalists expressed their dissatisfaction with the stunt and complained to THQ. THQ vice president of corporate communications Julia MacMedan addressed the complaints by saying that the Bay was in no real danger as the balloons are biodegradable. Additionally, THQ set up a clean-up team to clear out the balloons. “[The balloons] start the process of biodegrading as soon as they’re blown up with helium. There should not be any environmental concerns.” Despite MacMedan’s claims that the Bay area was safe, environmentalists continued to express their anger with the stunt, saying that animals living within the Bay could still be harmed by the material of the balloons. It is possible that THQ may face consequences as a result of anti-littering laws, though nothing has been clarified yet. THQ, next time stick to a fireworks show; or maybe a live theatrical act on the street. [Source]  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In an effort to promote the upcoming March 15 launch of Homefront, THQ decided to release 10,000 red balloons into the skies of San Francisco. The stunt was part of a fake protest against the game’s scripted North Korean government. Unfortunately, the stunt backfired when the gloomy, wet weather of San Francisco sent the balloons plummeting into the San Francisco Bay. Naturally, residents of the city and environmentalists expressed dissatisfaction toward THQ. THQ Vice President of Corporate Communications Julia MacMedan assured that the balloons are biodegradable and present no real danger to the Bay. The company also sent a clean-up team to remove the balloons. “[The balloons] start the process of biodegrading as soon as they’re blown up with helium. There should not be any environmental concerns.” Despite MacMedan’s claims that the Bay area was safe, environmentalists continued to express anger, arguing that animals living in or near the Bay could still be harmed by the material. It is possible that THQ may face consequences as a result of anti-littering laws, though no legal actions have been taken. Next time, THQ, stick to a simple fireworks show or maybe a live theatrical act on the street. [Source]  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time evoked feelings of wonder in those who played it, especially the first time they explored Hyrule in the sprawling Nintendo 64 adventure. When fans got their hands on the Master Quest version, which remixes the game’s dungeons to make them more challenging, they experienced a new sense of accomplishment. Nintendo has revealed some good news for potential Nintendo 3DS buyers anticipating the launch of Ocarina of Time 3D. David Young, Nintendo’s Associate Public Relations Manager, stated in an interview that Ocarina of Time 3D would include the tougher Master Quest version of the game. That means you’ll be able to play through the reworked dungeons all over again, this time in sweet stereoscopic 3D. If you never got the chance to play Master Quest before and plan on purchasing Ocarina of Time 3D for Nintendo’s upcoming dual screen handheld, you now have an excuse to be even more excited about the game. [Source]  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time managed to evoke countless wondrous feelings in gamers who played it, especially the first time they experienced the world of Hyrule in Link’s grand Nintendo 64 adventure. When fans got their hands on the Master Quest version of the game, which remixes the game’s dungeons in a much more difficult manner, a new sense of accomplishment was evoked in gamers. Nintendo has revealed some good news for potential Nintendo 3DS buyers looking forward to the launch of Ocarina of Time 3D. David Young, Nintendo’s Associate Public Relations Manager, stated in an interview that Ocarina of Time 3D would include the tougher Master Quest version of the game. That means you’ll be able to play through the reworked dungeons all over again, this time in sweet stereoscopic 3D. And if you never got the chance to play Master Quest before and plan on getting Ocarina of Time 3D for Nintendo’s upcoming dual screen handheld, you now have a reason to be even more excited about the game. [Source] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ‘One 4 Nine’ is a four-level campaign for Valve Software’s Left 4 Dead 1. The setting is the Nevada Desert. The U.S. Army have built a Military base around an ancient ‘alien tomb’, and after years of trying have finally managed to open it. The four survivors - Francis, Bill, Zoey and Louis - have heard rumors of a fortified safe zone located in the U.S Army’s base, but have no knowledge of the tomb, nor what will await them upon arrival…  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Virtual Skipper 5 is the 5th installment of Nadeo’s Virtual Skipper series for Windows. Its a series of sailing simulator games targeted at semi experienced sailors rather than normal gamers. This installment concentrates particularly on the 32nd America’s cup held in Valencia Spain in 2007. The game allows the user to take the helm of a number of different classes of boat.  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Halo: Wars was such an overwhelming success that a potential sequel - maybe on the Kinect - has not been ruled out by 343 Inudstries. The studio’s creative director Frank O’Connor talked to CVG about the RTS and its future. “The funny thing about Halo Wars is it actually beat our sales forecasts, so it was a bigger success than we expected,” he said. “It was a big critical success and it’s still the number one selling RTS on consoles this generation.” Through all the appraisal O’Connor didn’t rule out making a sequel, but did say that it’s not on the team’s radar. “In that regard it was a huge success but is the will to do a sequel there? Who knows,” he said. “We could do something that works on Kinect, for example. There’s no will against it but we’re not working on it right now.” Halo: Wars is the best-selling console real-time strategy game to date, shifting one million units through March 2009. Would a sequel be such a bad idea? [Source]  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Halo: Wars was such an overwhelming success that a potential sequel—possibly on the Kinect—could be in the cards for 343 Industries. The studio’s creative director Frank O’Connor talked to CVG about the RTS game and its future. “The funny thing about Halo Wars is it actually beat our sales forecasts, so it was a bigger success than we expected,” he said. “It was a big critical success and it’s still the number one selling RTS on consoles this generation.” O’Connor didn’t rule out the possibility of a sequel, but he did say that one is not on the team’s radar right now. “In that regard it was a huge success but is the will to do a sequel there? Who knows,” he said. “We could do something that works on Kinect, for example. There’s no will against it but we’re not working on it right now.” Halo: Wars is the best-selling console real-time strategy game to date, moving one million units through March 2009. Would a sequel be such a bad idea? [Source]  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Introversion, the developer behind Darwinia+ as well as Defcon and the upcoming Subversion, have decided they won’t be working with Microsoft anymore. The news comes via an interview with PCGamer, where Mark Morris of Introversion addressed the issue. “Do we regret working with Microsoft? No, but it’s unlikely we’ll work with them again,” he said. Darwinia+ barely made a blip on the radar when it released onto XBLA. The game drowned in a sea of releases, and by the time Microsoft tried to promote it through deal of the week offers, it was too late for the title. "XBLA were good to us and put us in the deal of the week, but it had no impact. Steam promotion was an order of magnitude better." The lengthy development and certification process Introversion went through probably didn’t help matters. The company famously documented the entire process on their website, though now it seems the article has been removed. “[Microsoft] make you work harder on the production value, but they don’t back it up with sales.” [Source]  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Introversion, the developer behind Darwinia+ on Xbox Live Arcade, as well as Defcon, and the upcoming Subversion, have decided they won’t be working with Microsoft going forward. The news comes via an interview with PCGamer, where Mark Morris of Introversion laid it out. “Do we regret working with Microsoft? No, but it’s unlikely we’ll work with them again,” he said. Darwinia+ barely registered on the radar when it released on XBLA – it was lost in a sea of releases, and by the time Microsoft tried to promote it through deal of the week offers, it was too late. "XBLA were good to us and put us in the deal of the week, but it had no impact. Steam promotion was an order of magnitude better." The long development and certification process Introversion went through probably didn’t help. The company famously documented the entire process on their site, though now it seems the article has been removed. “[Microsoft] make you work harder on the production value, but they don’t back it up with sales.” [Source] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Need for Speed: Most Wanted (NFS: MW) is a racing video game, developed by EA Black Box game’s street racing-oriented game play, with certain (but not all) customization options from the Need for Speed: Underground series. The game is also succeeded by Need for Speed: Carbon, which serves as a sequel to Most Wanted.  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In an interview with Japanese game site 4Gamer, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 producer Ryota Niitsuma discussed new characters he’d like to incorporate into the next game. Considering how well MvC3 turned out (read our review here), another sequel is likely, so Niitsuma’s comments may be more than idle daydreaming. Niitsuma expressed a wish for more Darkstalkers characters in the sequel. Marvel vs. Capcom 3 already features series characters Morrigan, Felicia, and Hsien-Ko. He would also like to involve characters from another nearly forgotten Capcom fighting series, Rival Schools. He wanted such characters included in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, but the team decided against it because of the game’s obscurity outside Japan and because the most popular Rival Schools characters are too similar to other MvC3 characters. Of course, Marvel vs. Capcom isn’t complete without Marvel in the equation. Niitsuma said he originally wanted Gambit and Venom in the MvC3 roster. With Jill and Shuma-Gorath appearing as DLC characters soon, you have to wonder if Capcom has plans to release additional characters like the ones mentioned. Niitsuma says there are currently no plans to add more characters, though doing so wouldn’t be difficult. I’d be perfectly happy if they stuck with Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and added new characters there. Of course, they’re already charging $5 for Jill and Shuma Gorath, so the extras could add up fast. [Source]  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In an interview with Japanese game site, 4Gamer, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Producer Ryota Niitsuma discussed who he’d like to see as new characters if there were ever a Marvel vs. Capcom 4. Considering how well MvC3 turned out (you can read our review here), another sequel is a pretty good bet, so Niitsuma’s comments may be more than idle daydreaming. In the interview, Niitsuma first responded that he’d like to see more Darkstalkers characters in a sequel. The game already features Morrigan, Felicia, and Hsien-Ko, but he says he would have liked to include even more characters from the series in Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Niitsuma would also like characters from another nearly forgotten Capcom fighting series, Rival Schools, to appear in Marvel vs. Capcom. He wanted some characters in Marvel vs. Capcom 3, but the team decided against it because the most popular characters are too similar to other MvC3 characters, and because of their obscurity outside of Japan. Of course, Marvel vs. Capcom isn’t complete without the Marvel side of the equation. When asked which Marvel characters he’d like to include, Niitsuma said he originally wanted to have Gambit and Venom in the MvC3 roster. With Jill and Shuma-Gorath appearing as DLC characters soon, you have to wonder if Capcom has plans to release additional characters like the ones mentioned. Niitsuma says there’s currently no plans to add more characters, though the process of doing so wouldn’t be difficult. I’d be perfectly happy if they just stuck with Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and added new characters to that for a while. Though I don’t know how happy I’d be to pay the $5 each they’re charging for Jill and Shuma Gorath. [Source]  | | | | | | | | | |  | |  | |  |
