Another big name jumps onto the controller-less bandwagon. Computer maker Lenovo will soon release it's very own motion-based gaming console, a la Microsoft's Kinect. Dubbed the eBox, this not so revolutionary console will be made by eedoo Technology, a new arm of the Lenovo beast.
Lenovo are making this a China-only release at the moment. Oddly enough, even though it is manufactured there, Microsoft do not have their beloved Xbox 360 on sale in the country. Yet. Lenovo are hoping to get their motion-based console out before Microsoft do.
Lenovo plan to release this outside of China.
Seriously? Guys. The market is already saturated with the Big Three. Do developers really want to make games for yet another console?
Apparently so. 16 unnamed developers have reportedly signed contracts to develop games for the eBox. Who they are is anyone's guess.
I personally am a little skeptical about this controller-less technology. One can only hope this is just a fad that will pass. Like 3D TV. Right? RIGHT?!?!
This week I should first of all lay out my credentials and the plan of this regular blog. I first came to know of Street Fighter from a friend who had it on an Amiga 500. I remember we played all day and didn’t really do anything else despite this being one of the first times I got to go to a friend's place in town.
Pretty much from there I was hooked I never really played it at an arcade or knew many moves but we’d smash it out all day long. I finally got my first copy of Street Fighter 2 on PC a 486 – DX2 66 quite the machine for the day (93). I used to play by myself all the time. I religiously used Ryu and that was my favourite character and would remain that way to this day.
Fast forward to 2008 when I’m now in my mid 20’s working in a studio when I see people playing Street Fighter 3rd Strike and it looked amazing. So I sat and watched a while until asked to have a go. I’ve not played any street fighter for years and had never heard of half these characters. I proceed to choose my faithful Ryu and begin. Let’s just say I had no idea what was going on as I proceed to get my ass handed to me. Supers, parry’s what the heck? I then left with my tail between my legs and was in shock what had a happened to my Street Fighter it was so different so hardcore. I did work for a video games company maybe they’re just really good?
This video still gives me goose bumps. Daigo 'The Beast' Umehara vs Justin Wong Evo 2004
Now fast forward to 2009 when Street Fighter 4 hits the streets. I vowed to learn this game and be good at it. I being a cheap arse thought I’d find the best deal possibly on launch which happens to be from the UK ($64AU delivered) was a sweet deal despite the fact that it sold out and was delayed 6 weeks. Despite this knock and being unable to moonlight when not playing with work friends, I found myself losing but having so much fun while doing so. I was learning picking up pointers and beginning to be a better player. By the time my own copy had arrived I was beating most of my peers.
Then towards the end of the year I was lucky enough to go to Japan and attend TGS (Tokyo Game Show) . Whilst in Japan I vowed to pick up a arcade stick as any purists' will say you need to play with a stick. I’ll write more in the coming weeks about my battle with learning to use an arcade stick. I picked up a Hori Fighting Stick 3.
Hori Fighting Stick 3
I then returned home and was instantly turned off and didn't use it. Then came the arrival of Super Street Fighter IV. I have this stick and am not using it. I also think I reached the peak of my ability with the pad. So I decided I would sit down and do all the challenges and learn how to use the arcade stick, focused on learning the art of becoming the next World Warrior.
So till fate brings us together again I'll see you in the ring.
Get ready, Australia, because it will only be a matter of months before you can start throwing yourself around your living room, Song 2 style. Wooo hooooo!
Microsoft has just announced the UK's release date for Kinect is November 10, 2010. Without an official word from Microsoft Australia, we can only guess that we'll be seeing it in stores around the same time. At $199 AUD, this could be an excellent pressie for the kids. Yup. No launch titles for the hardcore so far.
The only blood and gore on the Kinect at launch will probably be reports of people smashing TVs with their fists, breaking legs on coffee tables and smacking each other in the face from jubilant casual gaming. I can't wait!
For all you Sonic fans out there, EB Games is offering this awesome hat when you pre-order Sonic Colours, due November 11. Available on both Wii and DS, Sonic Colours will have a similar gameplay to Sonic Unleashed... sans werehog.
If you already have a Scribblenauts hat, you might want to add this to your collection. I know I would.
Warning: Wearing this will not make you run faster. Or attract the ladies.
I didn't play any of the previous Yakuza's, but I was well aware that it was a what could be described as a SBS style of video game. By that I mean its foreign and has subtitles so if you can't read then this isn't the game for you. If your still reading this review after that 'revelation' (more on that later) Yakuza 3 could be best described as a modern successor to Streets of Rage meets Grand Theft Auto.
You take charge of Kazuma Kiryu an ex Yukuza mobster/part time chairman of the Tojo clan and owner of an orphanage. Kazuma has quite a bit on his plate and when his orphanage becomes under threat he quickly discovers that there is more to this than a desperate grab for land titles. The outset sees you helping the annoying children with their go here get this type missions. I must say some are quite heartfelt but on the grand scale the game picks up once you leave for Tokyo.
In Tokyo you'll find meet up with old friends from the previous games, who mean nothing to me but as long as it means me getting to punch the heck out of someone the its fine by me. Other high points are some of the side activities that are really well polished. There is a golf course that plays and feel very nice and could work as a standalone game in itself, and it is woven into the story very nicely. This is one of the moments in Yakuza where your left in awe of the achievement that this game is. Yet Yakuza never fails to bring back down to the boring and mundane tasks of helping out the kids, chasing a cat or taking your girlfriend to Karaoke.
It seems to be something that is in nearly all Japanese games, there is a flash of brilliance followed with a design decision that leaves you scratching your head. Brilliance which is 'Revelation system.' Throughout the game Kazuma is emailed by a friend of an interesting thing that is about to happen and you should get there and capture it on your camera phone. For example I was informed of a 'Drunk Man' getting into trouble outside a bar. I was able to trigger of a Quick Time Event and capture the event unfolding. I then choose an appropriate title and post it on my blog. After competing this successfully I was able to have the revelation of learning Drunken Boxing. There are 10 in the game all of which are quirkily Japanese and are well worth the exploration. After this flash of brilliance comes random battles. I can be walking in downtown Tokyo with one of my kids and some punk comes up and wants to start some shit. A few maybe or how about being warned about a dangerous street or shady alley so I can avoid it if I don't want to be bothered , cause my child wants a fucking ice cream.
For Yakuza 3; Sega famously took a backward step after the failure that was Yakuza 2 in the west and didn't put any effort into localisation and in fact took aspects of the game out. Most notably the hostess clubs, after recently finishing ready a book called Yakuza Moon which described them in quite a lot of detail, I don't think we missed out on too much. This said I was still able to find and 'date' a fine Japanese girl who had an over protective dad. I'm sure there were more ladies of the night to find but I found myself too ingrained in the story to bother chasing tail. I did however feel that a lot more may have been cut that we weren't told about. I could stroll through the games 2 main locations and feel that I couldn't really go into many buildings.
If you're after an alternative or change to the GTA formula you could do worse than Yakuza 3. All in all I enjoyed my time in Yakuza 3 and solving you problems with you fists never gets old.
