Killzone 2 Rules!

I was one of those people who played the first Killzone and appreciated what they were trying to achieve, despite the technical and A.I. issues. There is no arguing that the game was flawed, but there were some really cool moments in it and I suggest everyone go out there and pick it up if you haven't already, especially since you can get it so cheap. Granted, you'll have to deal with the dated graphics a bit.

In the case of Killzone 2, I never really wanted to get my hopes up too high for fear that this sequel would never really live up to its CG trailer or the expectations of a pretty harsh gaming public. Fortunately, it appears that the game is shaping up amazingly and the demo I was able to play at E3 raised up my excitement considerably. Not only was it visually impressive, but the sheer intensity of the gunfights really blew me away. In many ways, it captures what made COD4 so great and throws it into a setting that interests me considerably more. The usage of blur and the insane amount of character and enemy animations, along with the attention to detail on every little thing, really do come together to make this shooter something special.



I didn't get a chance to play the multiplayer mode, but reading details of it, it appears that Guerrilla are really stepping up in that department, as well, and crafting an experience that is amazingly fun and visually superior to a lot of single-player titles. The dual-class badge system and the ability to see what is going on at a particular spawn point before you select it will definitely win over a lot of gamers. I really can't wait until the public beta arrives because I am going to play the crap out of it. For those of you who haven't had a chance to see it yet, here is a video that was released. Check it out here.

SEGA has moved!

I'm finally pretty much settled and unpacked at my new desk in the brand-new SEGA building. Fortunately, the move wasn't that far from the old building and we're even closer to Starbucks and Whole Foods now. What's great about the new digs is that it has more personality and that can only be good. I can't wait to see how everything looks once all the pictures and desk decorations show up. It should really end up being a fun place to come to every morning.

Hulk is Done!

It's been a crazy few months, but I can now say that "The Incredible Hulk" game has been approved by all 1st parties and is currently being manufactured and sent to your local stores. As with all projects, this one has certainly had its ups and downs, but I'm hoping that all you Hulk fans out there dig what we have tried to do with the character and the abilities that we have given him.

Making an "open world" game is never easy and it becomes even more challenging when you're able to pretty much destroy everything you see, including leveling entire buildings, but I think the end result was worth all the effort. Hopefully, you guys feel the same.

Those of you concerned by the length of the game, shouldn't be, as you're going to be investing some serious hours if you truly want to find every secret and unlock every bonus. We've got stuff for the movies fans and plenty for you comic buffs, as well, so grab your purple pants and get ready to cause some serious destruction.



On a completely different note, it looks like I'll be departing Team Marvel within the next few weeks to work on a different type of licensed movie game at SEGA. You smart ones will probably be able to figure it out. If not, just ask Bishop:-)

Hulk Smash!

Sorry for the lack of updates recently, but things have been pretty busy with getting The Incredible Hulk game done, as well as finishing up the last aspects of the Title Updates for both the PC and 360 versions of Universe at War. The Title Updates took a bit longer than I expected due to the complex nature of cross-platform coding, but it seems we're good to go and are now just waiting for Microsoft to give us the green light. If you play UAW, thanks for your patience and you can look forward to a lot of fixes, optimizations, and the chance to take on your fellow PC or 360 owners.



As far as Hulk goes, we are in the final stages of wrapping things up so fans can definitely expect to see the game on shelves in time for the upcoming movie. I don't know what it is, but there's just something intrinsically neat and fun about destroying and bringing down entire buildings. I'll often load up the game and just spend 10 or 15 minutes just causing as much damage as possible and not even playing any missions. And that is what I think one of the game's best points is... simply being able to bound around the city, smashing stuff and enjoying controlling the Hulk.

Needless to say, it's a great stress reliever :-) Hope you guys enjoy the movie and the game once they launch next month. Feel free to post any comments you might have about either of them.

MGS4: Return to Shadow Moses?

This would be so awesome if it were true, but I can't help but think that Kojima-san is just messing with us.

"Solid Snake's journey ends where it all began in Shadow Moses, but was it all just a dream?"

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/33452.html

UAW360 Demo & Other Ramblings

First off, I just wanted to let you guys know that a demo for Universe at War on Xbox 360 is coming very soon. I was hoping to get it out before the game ships to stores, which happens next Tuesday, but sometimes things don't work out exactly like you want them to. Still, I'm glad we were able to create a demo that shows off some of the more compelling elements that make UAW360 what is it. And, yes, before you ask, the demo will feature a online, multiplayer component. As far as what else is included, I'll leave that as a bit of a surprise. Needless to say, though, you'll definitely get more than your money's worth, which is good... considering the demo is free.



Speaking of money's worth, I am anxiously awaiting my copy of Hot Shots Golf to come in the mail, as I plan to take on a few of my coworkers and friends in a no-holds-barred tournament that is bound to rock the very halls of the PlayStation Network. Let me know if you have a copy of the game and are interested in playing and I'll see what I can do to get you in the tournament.



On the DVD front, I've been trying to catch up on the Anime version of Witchblade, which I'm still not sure if I like or not. However, I reckon now that I've spent the time to see the first three volumes, I should continue on until the series end. Honestly, the show is not quite what I expected and is almost a bit too light-hearted for the underlying premise. The character development is a bit weak and the enemies that show up generally leave much to be desired. Still, the action scenes are pretty cool and I'm sure there are plenty worse things I could be watching.

Other than that, I'm trying to deal with a sick child, but he appears to be getting better so, hopefully, that means a bit more sleep tonight for all of us. Here's to peaceful dreams.

Best Wii Mod Ever!

This has got to be one of the coolest console mods I have ever seen. It even has a place to plug in your Wii remote and charge it! Check it out here.