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shaunmc - RumblePak Extreme!!!

With the dawning of a new calendar year, we at the GameSpot previews team are trying to expand the sort of coverage we give upcoming games. One way we've been doing this is by bringing back video previews. Most of our video work is limited to on-camera interviews and gameplay demos, but now we've started putting together little video vignettes that combine the proper text of a preview article and video footage of the game. Last week, I did a fairly straightforward video preview for The Godfather II, which you can see in HD here, or super compressed down below:

However, this week we went a little more over the top with our video preview for House of the Dead: Overkill. This game is pure bat**** insanity, so we wanted to do something that reflected that. Brian Ekberg is the genius behind this video. He came up with the concept, wrote the voiceover script, and came up with most of the ideas for things we could improv about on camera. Just about the only thing I came up with was my ridiculous name, Dr. 48. Behold in stunning HD, or right here:

We had way more fun than anyone should have while filming that, and we definitely want to do some more video previews like this (as in sticking with the spirit of the game, not necessarily being super vulgar). What games out there would you guys like to see us cover in video preview form? I'm sure there are plenty, so have at it!

Bonus trivia: The character creator in The Godfather II is really detailed and even lets you customize your gang members. So of course I made a maniac Waluigi in perrywinkle. If you ask anyone around the office, they'll tell you I'm terrible with character creation. I always make the looniest people, and often spend more time in that menu than the game itself.

Bonus trivia 2: The suitcase, gun, and fake money used in the HotD video came from a James Bond: Quantum of Solace preview event. It's been sitting under my desk since October waiting to be used in some way. I think we did it justice.

Jan 23, 2009 10:39 am PT 10 Comments

AirDog80 - AirDog80's 15: Minute Blog

I have to say a fond farewell to Circuit City. Goodbye and farewell to the creepy older uncle of Best Buy. Somehow you always made me feel as if buying electronics was somehow akin to buying a used car. Your store layout was always terrible, your employees often looked as confused as I was. You always made me feel a little uncomfortable. You had games locked away in a small corner cage as if they were reptiles at the zoo. I'll miss tapping on the glass. I'd get an ipod jack put into my car for old times sake, but with no accountability due to your closing, I'm afraid I'd find my car up on blocks in the back lot. I have so many fond memories of wanting to leave your store to go to Best Buy. You will be sorely missed. I am comforted by the fact that I can always drive to Canada to be visually molested by your dull grey interior design.
Jan 20, 2009 12:02 pm PT 5 Comments

Kevin-V - Kevin-V's blog: Neverwinter Days

I've held several contests in my blog before, and over break I decided it was time for a new and different profile and blog headers. So I do declare, contest time!

As before, I am looking for a themed profile/blog header combo, similar to my current No More Heroes-themed images. I am also looking for a signature image, so really, you should consider this two different contests, though you should feel free to submit images for both. You might even win both!

Up for Grabs, Blog and Profile Banners: Star Wars: Empire at War, Gothic 3, and Supreme Commander, all for the PC.

Up for Grabs, Signature Image: Dreamfall: The Longest Journey and City Life, all for the PC.

I make no promises that these games will run on your own personal PC. If your PC doesn't support any or all of these titles, I can't be held responsible!

For the Blog and Profile banners:

1. They should be themed with one of the following three games: Metal Gear Solid 4, Valkyria Chronicles, or the upcoming Muramasa: The Demon Blade.

2. The images should show on the page as if they are a single image separated into two frames, in the style of my current profile images. Otherwise, you have artistic license to add text as you wish or add other touches you may think are appropriate.

3. Check your profile to see what dimensions these images need to have. From there, create your images and upload them to your profile images (or personal webspace) and post a link right here as a reply in this blog.

4. By creating and linking me to your image, you are giving me permission to use it in my profile on GameSpot. If I choose you as a winner (a choice that is completely subjective based on my appreciation for your images), you will need to provide me your name and address so I can mail the prize.

5. If I use your images, I will host them myself.

6. Submit your entry by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Wednesday, January 21.

7. During the contest time, I may use some of the submitted images to show them off in my blog. This should not be construed as a choice for winner, only as a chance to show off various designs as they are submitted. I will announce the winner on Thursday, January 22.

----------

For the Signature:

1. It should be themed with one of the following three games: ICO, Okami, or the latest Prince of Persia.

2. You have artistic license to add text as you wish or add other touches you may think are appropriate.

3. Check your profile to see what dimensions the image should have. From there, create your image and upload it to your profile images (or personal webspace) and post a link right here as a reply in this blog.

4. By creating and linking me to your image, you are giving me permission to use it as my forums signature on GameSpot. If I choose you as a winner (a choice that is completely subjective based on my appreciation for your images), you will need to provide me your name and address so I can mail the prize.

5. If I use your image, I will host it myself.

6. Submit your entry by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on Wednesday, January 21.

7. During the contest time, I may use some of the submitted images to show them off in my signature. This should not be construed as a choice for winner, only as a chance to show off various designs as they are submitted. I will announce the winner on Thursday, January 22.

-----

If you have any questions, let me know. Otherwise, get cracking! I can't wait to see what fabulous creations you devise. The images users have created for me in the past have been absolutely incredible.

Jan 11, 2009 11:02 am PT 54 Comments

guy_cocker - Hello you!

As part of our New Year's Resolutions, we're taking GameSpot UK's video and audio shows weekly in 2009. The GameSpot UK Podcast goes out on Thursdays and Start/Select on Fridays -- and remember you can subscribe to both in iTunes.

We'd love to hear your feedback on Start/Select and what you'd like to see from the show -- let us know your thoughts in the GameSpot UK forum!

Jan 10, 2009 3:37 am PT 8 Comments

AirDog80 - AirDog80's 15: Minute Blog

I likes me some Combat Arms but I have a big dilemma, the game is free, but it's kind of needy. This online arcade style shooter with some of the best and most balanced maps I've ever seen wants me to play it more than two hours a day. This is largely due to Nexon's gun rental system were you start with 9,000 game points that you drain on renting gear and equipment each day you put lead downrange. This means your purchases are gone in a fixed amount of real time, usually 24 hours. You earn points back through kills and wins.

A good weapon, say an AK-74 with scope, or fan favorite G36E, will run you 950 gp/day (game points per day) or you can play this game on the cheap by popping a 150 gp/day scope on your trusty yet mediocre M-16. The better rifles are more fun since they enable long range kills and better chances of high kill ratios all around. The problem is at 950gp per rifle per day, and earning only an avg of 150gp per round, it takes more than six rounds, or two hours per day not to bleed cash, and bleed cash you will. You can fund raise by playing for a day and only purchasing a scope, but this is almost reminiscent of grinding in MMORPG's. Don't let other bloggers fool you, you can have fun doing this on the Grunt servers. But as a Combat Arms player you are perpetually in a race to loose less than a few thousand gp per rank. If you make it to the next rank you will receive gp bonuses and in theory as long as you only bleed a few thousand gp per level, you're ok. Warning, this is easier said than done should you have a job, fiancé, dog, or child.

There is something to be said for having to earn your way through a game. I feel as if the trend has been going in the opposite direction for the past two years. By forcing you to earn your keep, Combat Arms challenges you to become a more efficient shooter. Wanting higher kill ratios and more game points per round, without spending real life cash, I found myself studying maps constantly for new sniping ledges, tactics, and advantages. But if you're wallet is dedicated to unleaded 87 octane like me, or you just don't want to spend real money on a free game on principle, then this rental system is both a mood killer and motivation to play.

I respect Nexon for having a business model in the first place. If there is one thing I've learned since leaving the guarded halls of torture, ahem, academia, it's that nothing is free and in order to bring you Combat Arms for free, someone has to be paying. If you should like to support the poor and needy gamers of the world you can avoid much hassle by shelling out some real world cash to pick up powerful weapons for 90 days for under ten dollars. But by those standards if you play Combat Arms for more than six months you're buying the game and then some. But hey, you're keeping it free for me and as I said, I likes me some Combat Arms. So gun rentals, bane or boom? I'm conflicted.

Jan 6, 2009 4:28 pm PT 3 Comments

LarkAnderson - I hate Ayn Rand!

Everyone else is doing it, and since I'd jump off a bridge if everyone else was I figured I'd do it too. Here's my personal top ten list of 2008 games along with some extras (I totally stole this format from Shaun, thanks buddy!). Watch out for the occasional spoiler!

10. Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia: The best Metroidvania yet (people who call them Castleroids are dumb). A great main character, awesome story, challenging gameplay, all new monsters and art (!), fantastic bosses, and totally rad soundtrack.

9. Super Smash Bros. Brawl: I loved this game early in the year when I reviewed it, though it was gradually left behind in favor of others. Lately though, I've been playing it again with my brother now that we've moved in together and I'm reminded of how fun it can be.

8. Street Fighter IV: Just cause it's not out in the US yet doesn't mean anything to me! Playing this on genuine Japanese arcade machines is awesome. We'll see if the home versions are as good for me.

7. Fallout 3: I loathed Oblivion. Like, I couldn't play it for longer than 20 minutes. I did enjoy Fallout 3 though, for some reason. Maybe it's because I like Fallout (even though this game isn't really Fallout in any way) but whatever. My biggest issues with it is that it's not an RPG because none of the choices you make really matter (at the end of the game I was a known mass murderer and cannibal, yet the Brotherhood of Steel was still all like "Hey man you can totally join up with us and save the world!") and that the entire game wasn't like the Libery Prime sequence at the end.

6. Persona 4: I loved Persona 3--it's one of my favorite RPGs ever. Persona 4 took that formula and perfected it, and in every way its gameplay is superior to its precessor. Where it doesn't succeed quite so well though is in the story. Though the characters were much more believable in P4, P3 had such a much more epic story (especially the ending, which is pretty much the best final encounter ever). As original as the social link/dungeon crawling combo is though, I'm really hoping they radically change the series again for P5.

5. Left 4 Dead: This game is awesome. There's nothing better than having four people team up to fight zombies post-apocalypse. I can't recommend this game enough for co-op play.

4. Valkyria Chronicles: I love strategy RPGs, and Valkyria Chronicles is among the best ever made. Though it has a few issues, I love its art style and direction, the manner in which its story is told, its characters, the sheer amount of backstory there is to read and uncover, and the many steps forward its taken for the genre. I'm very disappointed at how poorly its been recieved as far as sales are concerned in the US.

3. No More Heroes: Travis Touchdown's hilarious and bloody rise to the top is pure genious. Suda-51, I salute you. While this is basically Boss Fight: The Game 2 (the first Boss Fight: The Game was Shadow of the Colossus, another fantastic title), the bosses are just so over the top and awesome, the art style so stylish, and the combat and controls so right. The ending is epic too. Can't wait for the sequel.

2. Metal Gear Solid 4: Solid Snake's final mission is absolutely amazing. I broke down and bought a PS3 for this game alone, and it was worth it. I can't really say anything about this that hasn't already been said so I won't.

1. Dead Space: This was one of my most anticipated games of the year and it was way better than I expected. I loved this game from the beginning all the way through the end, and I think that it's done an amazing number of things for the genre in that it managed to be heavily action oriented yet still unmistakably survival horror, unlike Resident Evil 4 which was anything but a pure action game.

Special Awards:

Barely Missed the Top 10 (In No Particular Order): Gears of War 2, Braid, Prince of Persia, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Rock Band 2, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, and Mega Man 9.

Didn't Quality Since They Were Remakes/Ports: Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger. Two of the best games ever, but yeah they've been out for like 10 years or something.

Most Disliked Game: Mirror's Edge. I will never understand why some people liked this.

Worst Game: Emergency Mayhem. This is one of the worst games ever made. It represents everything wrong with Wii Shovelware.

Favorite Book I Read: I actually read about as many books as I played games in 2008 so maybe I'll write a separate best books blog post sometime (scratch the maybe, I will sometime this week). Anyway, this is a tie between two books that are a lot older but only recently were read by me: Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light and Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer. They're both amazing stories that I count among my favorite of all time.

Jan 6, 2009 1:34 pm PT 23 Comments

Kevin-V - Kevin-V's blog: Neverwinter Days

Kevin Vanord
Kevin Vanord, Associate Editor

Before I worked at GameSpot, I used to post my favorite games of the year. I called my personal little awards "The Cubbies," named for my old username "fiddlecub." Of course, now I am part of the actual awards discussion, and trust me, our GOTY meetings were intense. But having a voice is invigorating, and while I originally shied away from doing a list, my fellow editors have been posting their personal favorites. Tom Mc Shea and Shaun McInnis have already thrown out their thoughts, so I'm throwing out mine.

Of course, it whould be said that these games represent my own thoughts. Any "best of" list is bound to strike a chord (or a nerve). If you need proof, glance at our best-of feature, where clearly not everyone agrees with each other. But we all do agree that we love games, passionately. And when you love a game passionately, you want to cry its greatness from the rooftops in the hopes that others will adore them as much as you do.

For some, that also means disparaging the thoughts of others. Me, well, I would rather focus on the positive and stay away from the negative. 2008 was an incredible year for games, and when I look back, these are the ones I will most remember.

10. Valkyria Chronicles - The art design is awesome, of course, but even beyond that, Valkyria Chronicles does something few other strategy RPGs can manage: remove unnecessary frustrations that come between you and the game. It's *gasp* fun, it's different, and it has the potential to change a genre, in a genre in desperate need of new blood.

9. Tales of Vesperia - On the other hand, Tales of Vesperia does little that's new, but that's ok. It's fun, and it's extremely well paced. Pacing is an important thing in most games, but doubly so in RPGs, which generally have a broader ebb and flow than other genres. With lots of flashy but easy combat, a good smattering of bosses, frequent-but-manageable cutscene, and easy-to-navigate towns, this is the greatest example of how old-fashioned RPG gameplay can be updated for a new generation.

8. Condemned 2 - Dead Space is the horror game most people will remember from this year, but Condemned 2 is less predictable and uses silence and periods of inaction to incredible effect. It gets a bit hokey, but as Shaun would say, you can shank hobos, so that makes up for it. In all seriousness, the sound design, the high-impact melee combat, the creepy locales--all of these elements make Condemned 2 one of 2008's oft-overlooked gems.

7. Geometry Wars 2 - This is probably my most-played game of 2008. I liked but didn't love the original, but hell if the sequel didn't keep me addicted. My favorite mode is possibly the least favorite of others: Waves. But every mode was top-notch, and when you get tired of one, you can just move to another. Pure fun.

6. Okami - I almost didn't includes this, because Okami has had its day in the sun. But who cares? It deserves a day in the sun every year. It is one of the finest action adventures ever created: stunningly gorgeous, long, charming, and a blast to play. It also inspired aspects of another great game from 2008, Prince of Persia. Renewal is an important theme in all art, and it's only natural that games should follow suit.

5. Sins of a Solar Empire - If you didn't play this game, you should. I don't care if you need to scour junkyards for RAM chips, just play it. It's massive, it's extraordinary, and it's hella fun. 2007 was a stronger year for PC strategy games, but that's ok. Just play it, already.

4. Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - The ending of Crisis Core will stay with me for a long time, and this in a year of memorable moments that strike your very, well, core. It featured an engrossing story yet was still playable on the go, a difficult tightrope-walking act that few portable games can accomplish. And I am not afraid to say it: I wept during the last half-hour. You can't put a price on games that tug at your emotions.

3. Fallout 3 - The bane of some Fallout fans and the apple of others' eyes, Fallout 3 infuriated some old-school enthusiasts, captured others, and managed regardless to be one of the best games of the year. When other games parade around this idea of "meaningful player choices" but deliver nothing more than smoke and mirrors, Fallout 3 makes it happen. Flawed, sure, but eminently playable and totally addicting.

2. No More Heroes - Best game with a lightsaber all year. Yeah, I said it. But really, the game is so funny, so over the top, and so enjoyable that I want to play it right now just because I am writing about it. It also gets motion controls right. It embraces them but it doesn't murder them. Play it, and you won't forget it.

1. Metal Gear Solid 4 - I wrote a lengthy review detailing what makes this game so incredible, so I hate to retread all of that ground again. I am hardly an MGS fanboy; I enjoyed the hell out of MGS2, but MGS3 never captured me, nor was I ever an enormous fan of the original, though I appreciated it a good deal. Yet MGS4 enthralled me from beginning to end. Perhaps you aren't a fan of the storytelling and long cutscenes, but even if you subtract that from the equation (which you shouldn't), you have an incredible game that was just a lot of fun to play. And you know, I like fun.

I would offer up an honorable mention list, but really, where does it end? This was a great year, and for every game on my list, there are two more that could have just as easily been there. What games did you love above all others in 2008?

Jan 5, 2009 4:46 pm PT 46 Comments
RSS: Soapbox Staff Blogs

About the Soapbox

Welcome to the GameSpot Soapbox, in which you can always find the latest rants, diatribes, well-reasoned arguments, and baseless speculation about gaming both from the GameSpot editors and GameSpot users. Want to be spotlighted? We'll consider every GameSpot blog post marked with the category "editorial" for inclusion. Sound off!

Last updated: Jan 23, 2009 10:39 am PT
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GameSpot Users Sound Off!

ZimpanX
The ZimpanX 2008 Game Awards, Part 1/2
Well hello there. I was originally going to sum the past year like I did last time with one of...
Jan 21, 2009 3:15 pm PT | 31 comments
Gamakarmica
The Digital Scooby Snack -- The Platforms and Pitfalls of Achievements
When we eventually look back on this generation, we will see a couple of things that the...
Jan 21, 2009 1:56 pm PT | 67 comments
finalcross
Is there an answer for Print Magazines?
After the recent closure of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) and the eBay offer for HardCore...
Jan 18, 2009 8:55 pm PT | 47 comments
spazzx625
(Some of) My 2009 Gaming Predictions
Well, we are officially more than 2 weeks into the new year, and I think it's time to start off...
Jan 16, 2009 7:45 am PT | 176 comments
smerlus
A View of a Review 1
After every game I play through I tend to look at what the game did right and what the game did...
Jan 10, 2009 3:19 pm PT | 87 comments
laughlyn12
How Did You Vote for GoTY?
As you've no doubt seen by now Gamespot has chosen its game of the year. Up until the last...
Dec 27, 2008 7:59 pm PT | 211 comments
Wootex
Looking Forward... Looking Back
Well, the year 2008 has come and is still here, at least for a few more days. However, it won't...
Dec 27, 2008 4:07 pm PT | 78 comments
DouglasBuffone
Gamers as Good Samaritans
As I just finished up my exams, I was way behind on my shopping and I decided to go to the mall...
Dec 20, 2008 11:14 pm PT | 207 comments
OracleXIII
GotY = Gamer's Choice. Nothing else.
It's finally time to choose the best games of the year. It's always exciting for me. Not...
Dec 19, 2008 11:08 pm PT | 266 comments
chikahiro94
"Does the Xbox 720 need Blu-ray to succeed?" Yes.
OpEd here. He says "no." I disagree. The 720 and PS4 will both need Blu-Ray to succeed. Why?...
Dec 18, 2008 9:34 pm PT | 328 comments
Bozanimal
Editorial: How market conditions may affect gamers
If you do not think a recession affects video gamers, think again. Poor economic conditions...
Dec 18, 2008 5:05 am PT | 42 comments
subrosian
A Broken Ruler for a Broken Game
Before we begin, it is be best to state my purpose - it's oft misunderstood. What is my goal?...
Dec 10, 2008 5:44 pm PT | 164 comments
bacchus2
Looking Back : November 2005.
The purpose of Looking Back is to take a look at some older retail games for the current...
Nov 22, 2008 6:35 pm PT | 120 comments
tiggerboy
The funeral for my Xbox 360 (with WORKING pics)
The rain was comforting today. Xbox 360 the Fourths funeral was held yesterday, November 20th...
Nov 21, 2008 1:09 pm PT | 1266 comments
MrCHUP0N
When Positive Reviews are Moot: "The Game Just Came Out."
Are a game's positive reviews rendered moot because they were written right when the game in...
Nov 11, 2008 5:26 pm PT | 140 comments
MetalGear_Ninty
Our haven is broken
Gone are the days when gaming was an ignored medium by the mainstream of society. Gone are the...
Oct 25, 2008 6:07 am PT | 213 comments
GabuEx
Life and Pokemon
I'm gonna make a confession right off the bat in this post. I'm 23. I'm male. And I love...
Oct 19, 2008 10:21 pm PT | 343 comments
OrkHammer007
The ESRB and MPAA: Similar Objectives, Different Results
( Author's Note: Most of the following editorial is based on my observations of both major US...
Oct 18, 2008 4:23 pm PT | 113 comments
Donkeljohn
Been There, Done That.
Have you ver wished progress from a previoius game carried over into the game's sequel? I have....
Oct 1, 2008 2:03 pm PT | 17 comments
Reetesh
Bending them Rules!
H ello again everyone! Welcome to another entry in my 3 year old journal where I have been...
Sep 21, 2008 3:48 am PT | 64 comments
yeah_write
Playing The Middle Man
Every now and then, a game developer comes up with a good idea, and sometimes that good idea...
Aug 20, 2008 7:30 am PT | 89 comments
Jerell_rast
Keep your customer satisfied
Honestly, this years Nintendo Conference was disappointing for me as a long time...
Aug 17, 2008 1:48 pm PT | 60 comments

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