My back HURTS.
Can the inappropriate jokes, you clowns. My back really, really hurts and I’m not happy about it.
Regardless, I’m here to bring you the news as I always do; or whatever I manage to approximate. As Ethos mentioned earlier today (in a not-so-subtle reminder, methinks) there actually IS quite a bit of news to discuss.
So hang on to your butts, and we’ll get to it.
Modern Warfare 2 Opening Video Leaked – Controversy Likely to Follow
I almost have to wonder if this was intentional on the part of Infinity Ward or Activision. The opening gameplay segment of the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has been leaked for the viewing pleasure of the internet. Check it out below:
Hmm. Anything about this video alarm you? Like… the fact that the player is clearly a terrorist, gunning down innocent civilians in an airport? Just a little bit on the brutal side.
It’s obvious that this is just a temporary segment, with the purpose of developing the plot of the game. However, I have little doubt that it will be snapped up by the mass media and blown way out of proportion.
And frankly, I doubt either publisher or developer will have a problem with that.
Modern Warfare 2 Will Feature Third-Person Mode
IN that same video, an apparent third-person shooting mode was shown off. This mode was later confirmed by Activision.
Third-person mode will only be available in multiplayer matches, and only when it is specifically set in the options menu beforehand. (i.e, players will not be able to toggle first/third person viewpoints while in a match. Also, it must be set for all players in the match.)
Huh. A “leaked” video that a) announces an unexpected new game mode and b) shows off some sure-to-be-controversial footage? Well played, Activision. Well played.
God of War Collection to Hit Stores November 17
Hey, hey, hey; we finally have a release date AND a trophy list for the upcoming God of War collection for the PS3. As the title states, that release date is November 17. For those interested in the trophy list (which is quite massive) check out the Kotaku article.
The God of War collection is the two original PS2 classics re-mastered and copied to a single Blu-Ray disc. You probably knew that already, but I figured I should clarify for posterity’s sake. I’d love to pick up personally, but between Modern Warfare 2 and Assassin’s Creed II, it’s yet to be seen if I’ll have the financial means.
First Brutal Legend DLC Free on PS3
Brutal Legend has a DLC pack coming out on November 5, which consists of two new maps for the game’s online multiplayer mode. (Which, in case you’re wondering, I’ve yet to test out.) The names of the maps are Circle of Tears and Death’s Fjord, and they’ll cost you 400 Microsoft Points.
However, if you, like me, have the PS3 version of Brutal Legend, you can download the pack for free for the first two weeks. Why? Nobody knows. So, instead of asking questions, I’ll just download it and be happy. I mean, I’ll probably never USE it, but it’s free so I don’t care.
Disgruntled Gamer Sues Sony over PSN Ban
Lawsuits! Lawsuits! Juicy lawsuits. Actually, this one is a bit lame, but it’s funny. Erik Estavillo, avid player of Resistance: Fall of Man originally filed suit against Sony back in June, claiming that his ban somehow violated his right of free speech. In that same suit, he asserted that his ban constituted theft of his pre-paid PSN points. Needless to say, his case was thrown out the window rather quickly.
Apparently he’s back at it, still representing himself, and appealing his garbage lawsuit. Why did I give this dumb fucker the time of day? Because this quote from the GamePolitics article is priceless:
Estavillo tells GP he is representing himself in these cases and, in light of his PSN ban, is playing the Wii (Metroid Trilogy) and Xbox 360 (Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe). Estavillo said that he loves playing as The Joker in the latter title and may be “a bit obsessed” with the character, adding, “I plan to wear a purple suit during my court trials. No joke!”
Win, win, win.
The Who to Rock Rock Band
God DAMN it. I knew eventually they were going to release a Rock Band or Guitar Hero that I care about, and here it is. Speaking to Mass Live.com, The Who’s lead singer, Roger Daltrey, let the cat out of the bag:
Q: The Beatles are the latest band to be featured in a video game, “The Beatles: Rock Band.”
A: The game, yeah, yeah, they’re going to be doing a Who one next year. There is one planned. (The idea) is fabulous. Anything that gets non-musical people interested in music is wonderful. In my opinion, music is our last true great freedom. They can burn our books, they can burn our paintings, but they can’t stop us singing and making music.
I love The Who. I have Quadrophenia playing as I type this, in fact. I happen to despise Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and the like.
If The Who: Rock Band ever does come to exist, it will represent a dire conflict of interest.
Alrighty, that’s all folks. You actually got a decent amount of news today, and you got it on time. So. Be happy!
By the way, just to set the record straight, I have not picked up Forza 3, and I won’t be doing so. Why? Because only stupid, scheming, theme-week stealing douchebags play that Forza, THAT’S why.
(grumblegrumble)
Tags: Brutal Legend, Frivolous Lawsuits, God of War Collection, Hey! Look! Listen!, Modern Warfare 2, The Who: Rock Band
I gotta say, I love this column. No foolin’.
Hey, me too!
It’s like a week of Kotaku boiled down to its purest essence.
-GoW collection is my essential purchase of November, though I also plan on getting DAO and ACII.
-I’ll never buy GH no matter how much I like the band involved, why would I when I could just listen to the music?
Why play Uncharted when I could just watch someone play Uncharted?
Oliver, for someone who always argues that people shouldn’t (see: can’t) hate on games they haven’t played, your unwarranted hate for music games comes across as “I want to hate on it because it’s popular”. Especially because you don’t even have the “I play real guitar” defense.
And more at SN: the most fun songs to play on Rock Band/GH aren’t necessarily songs I like the most to listen to. I adore my music and know the value of just enjoying music. However, the core gameplay of music games are an absolute blast, and doesn’t take away from my love of music or games.
That all being said, although I love Green Day, their music makes for really shitty Rock Band tracks. But something like Boston, which I would never really listen to before, has incredibly fun runs. Metallica too.
HOWEVER, more at Oliver: all THAT being said, The Who is one of those wonderful combinations that have amazing music, but ALSO have incredibly fun Rock Band charts. I’m looking forward to this a LOT.
I adore The Beatles, but BOY do they have boring ass charts on Rock Band.
My coment was more directed at Oliver. If you enjoy the gameplay mechanics and incremental improvements which come with annual releases of Guitar Hero, then of course the addition of a preferred band is a great reason to pick it up. If on the other hand you don’t enjoy these games, then I don’t see why the addition of a favourite band would be a compelling reason to pick it up if you can just listen to the music without all the nonsense instead.
Bah-ha, although I wouldn’t call it nonsense, I do agree in theory. My point is that Riddles hasn’t even tried the games out to see if he enjoys them. Which wouldn’t be SUCH a big deal if he didn’t preach against that all the time.
http://wondermark.com/560/
Bah-ha, that really IS a site made for Lusipurr.
Wondermark speaks truth!
I think the saddest part of this HLL is the fact that I’m now MUCH more likely to pick up the GoW collection because one of the trophies is called “You Got the Touch.”
RE: Music Games – I can definitely sympathize with Riddles on this in some respect. Sometimes, you don’t need to play a game to know you won’t like it. If the mechanic of hitting buttons rhythmically while brightly colored things overlap other brightly colored things in some fashion doesn’t appeal to Riddles, then odds are pretty good he won’t care for Guitar Hero or Rock Band (or DDR or DJ Hero or whatever else they’re producing this month) no matter what environment he plays them in. That being said, I think the issue is more preaching about what are essentially opinions in the first place. Whoever enjoys it, go have fun. Riddles can go play something else. Either that, or sit in the corner silently mocking the people playing music games. It’s his call :D.
Oh, and if this guy shows up for his court date dressed as The Joker and NOBODY figured out how to get pictures onto the internet, humanity has failed as a species.
Thanks, Darth. Sums up my feeling for rhythm games pretty well. Same with sports games, really.
When I say that I “hate” Guitar Hero/Rock Band, I AM exaggerating. Just to clarify with CERTAIN PEOPLE
I’ll have my eyes peeled for photos of the court proceedings. Someone’s gotta grab a cellphone snapshot at least.
I dislike frivolous things, subsequently I do hate Guitar Hero et al.
Frivolous is a little subjective, no? I could say that video games in general are frivolous.
Anyway, my point is that I thought music games were stupid too until I tried them. Definitely a different experience to play them.
Yeah, I mean games are pretty much all frivolous. This year, I’ve spent about $1000 on video games (And that’s not counting gifts for others or anything), but really, what’s the point of having money if you don’t spend it (Well, to some extent :F)? I don’t really have an issue with all the plastic that’s always packaged with the miscellaneous music games, I mean you can usually find the sets for less than the cost of 2 regular games. Again, not really my thing, but presumably they’ll stop releasing them once people stop buying them.
By frivolous I meant not as substantial (content wise) as the games I’m used to. Guitar Hero is pretty much doing the same thing over and over in varying patterns in order to achieve a high score, the mechanics of which are an end in themselves. So yeah I view them as frivolous in relation to more complicated games, and consider them as casual titles. Not something that interests me, nor something I greatly respect, not that I’d want discourage you from enjoying them though.
Yeah, same thing with Tetris though. There’s a place for games to just be straight challenge and fun.
Of course there’s a place, just not in my collection.