Every inch of this sci-fi shooter screams “even though Japanese developers created me, I was made specifically for American audiences”. This sentiment would later be the driving force behind games such as Breakdown, Dead Rising, and No More Heroes, games that have achieved cult-like status. Smilebit/Sega’s Xbox shooter might not have been perfect, but its steampunk setting and science fiction vibe helped it carve an identity of its own.
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After Command and Conquer: Generals took Command and Conquer in another direction (by way of a new universe) Command and Conquer 3 marks a return to form for the series. The Tiberium crystals have returned, the goofy live-action cinemas have returned, the command bar has returned, and most of all, the messiah himself, Kane has returned, and Electronic Art’s real time strategy franchise has never looked better.
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According to gaming site Aeropause, and followed up on Resident Evil/Silent Hill fansite The Horror is Alive, word has it that long-time Konami composer Akira Yamaoka has left the big-name game publisher after 16 years of dedicated duty.

Yamaoka is most well known for his work done for the Silent Hill series of games, having almost single-handedly worked on everything from the first game right up to the yet-released re-make ‘Shattered Memories’. Combining haunting ambient melodies with soft rock tunes, Yamaoka has been praised for helping make the survival-horror series what it is today. He is also credited with having worked on the soundtracks to Gradius III & IV, Contra: Shattered Solider, and Rumble Roses.

One can only hope that this is just heavy rumor, as no official word from Konami has been released thus far, though this could be in an attempt to smooth things over. Speaking as a avid fan of the Silent Hill series, I can say with certainty that if these rumor do indeed prove true, then Konami has lost one of their pinnacle members, as well as the last remaining key of Team Silent. That is a truly devastating thing to think about for this little fan.

…but should they have stayed hidden?

Resurrecting the Sands of Time series that inspired the upcoming Jerry Bruckheimer film, Ubisoft announced today that their next installment will not be a follow-up to the “new” Prince of Persia series. This change-up shouldn’t be much of a surprise, since it was reported almost two months ago that the name had been reserved for “game-related use”.

While a tie-in makes sense fiscally, will gamers (literally) buy it?

Read the press release, and reactions, after the jump:

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Well, now that the turkey is digested and the Black Friday bargain hunting is done, it’s time to get a start on your holiday shopping. Of course, I’m here to help you get a head start. For the $20 GOTW, I’ve got one of those new-fangled rhythm games that the kids seem to love so much, and for the lost classic, I got one of those old-school style PC RPGs that a select few tend to love.
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The following may or may not be an actual conversation between me and a college roommate.

My Roommate: Yo Will! Check out this book I read for history class!

Me: You actually read? I thought you just played football and lifted weights all day!

My Romomate: Heck yeah! It’s called Romance of the Three Kingdoms! I thought it was some sappy romance novel, but it’s got sorcerers, babes, dudes getting their heads chopped off, dudes chopping their wives up and eating them and all kinds of crazy $#!t!

Me: Awesome. They made some video games about it you know. You select a Chinese general, kill hundreds of enemies, and you even get to ride on horseback!

Roomie: I already know about that. Koei made them and they’re called Dynasty Warriors. So that’s what those games are based on…

Me: Nope, Capcom made them, and it was a pair of arcade titles called Dynasty Wars and Warriors of Fate. They’re arcade games, so they’re a bit hard to find.

Roomie: Awesome! I’m gonna find them right now!
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World of Goo is yet another independently developed physics-based puzzle game (hey, I just can’t get enough of these), and it was one of the first games available on Nintendo’s WiiWare service. Developed by ex-EA staff members Kyle Gabler and Ron Carmel, World of Goo can best be described as a cross between Lemmings, Jenga, and a can of Play-Doh. Your goal is to get a group of goo balls to a pipe. You can form the goo into different shapes and connect them into towers, bridges, or whatever else you think can help you solve the level. There are 5 different chapters, each with their own graphical style, theme, and levels. Early on in the game you’ll unlock the “World of Goo Corporation”, which is a bonus level where you use your excess goo balls to try to compete with other players as you attempt to build a bigger tower than everyone else. World of Goo is a fun and whimsical game that can be enjoyed on quite a few platforms. It has received several awards as well, so puzzle gamers will definitely want to check this game out.

Check Out Shownotes Behind the Cut!
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