Released during last week’s San Diego Comic-Con, Thomas Jane has created his very own (and very awesome) fan-film reprising his role as The Punisher. His purpose behind this seems to be to get Marvel execs to realize what his vision for the character would be if the franchise continues. Check it out but beware that it is VERY NSFW!
Back in 2001, Introversion Software released a hacking game for PC titled “Uplink”. Widely known for it’s simple design and immersion factor, Uplink was a true to life experience of how hackers do their dirty deeds. Fast forward to 2012 and another classic game has been ported over to IOS devices for a new generation to enjoy. Let’s jump into the server nodes and see how the game holds up.
What We Thought Was Cool
You Are The Hacker
The one thing that made Uplink different than most other games is how it really makes you feel like you are in the game. This is a hackers LARPing dream come true as the game puts you front and center to what a real hacker might see. Providing nothing more than a blue map screen, Uplink gives off a set of text menus and bulletin boards offering hacking jobs. After taking the initial tutorial, the player is off on their own to find jobs that match their skill level via an underworld BBS type system. Some jobs may not be available right away until you “Chat” with a client proving your ability. connecting to the underworld also offers an online store filled with IP tracers, root kits, and crackers. All these tools are essential for a would be criminal hacker and you can upgrade them to build on their strength. As you select a job, you are presented with a server maps where you can skip trace around to avoid detection. Connecting straight to the network you wish to hack may not be the best way to go about things.
During my initial play through, I thought it would be fun to try and see what happens when you just go straight for the goods. I found that without the proper tools you are going to get caught right away. I ended up getting caught so much that the client fired me from the job. I received an in-game mail that advised me that I need to pay a cyber jail crime or face further problems. I decided against paying the “man” and went back to the job board where I quickly learned that every available client thought I was too high risk due to my criminal record. My hacking career was over in a flash and I was forced to start over from the bottom.
There is an actual story to Uplink and as you progress through the missions things will be revealed to you. Feeling like an old school adventure game, the conspiracy unravels via the in-game email system. This really adds to the immersion factor as it combines nicely with the way the game is built. Staring at a password cracker and a tracer kit hoping that you don’t get caught can add some palm sweating moments.
Presentation
How are graphics one of the cool features of a mostly text adventure? Well young hacker, it’s the simple graphic style of the game that ties everything together with a pretty little bow. Anyone who plays Uplink is presented with everything that a seedy hacker might see on their computer screen. From logins to hacking tools, Uplink makes the player believe that they are actually doing some dirty work here. The design of the whole thing ups the immersion by a few notches and is a big bucket of win for those looking at being immersed into a game. Uplink works really well with a touchscreen device as it makes it easier to swipe in and out of menus. I did find that some of the typing portions responded a bit slow but it was nothing to really complain about. The presentation of Uplink really makes you believe like you are in some sort of Hollywood movie where you are racing against time to get a job done.
What We Thought Sucked
Learning Curve
Uplink is not really made for the casual gamer who does not want to be frustrated with an IOS game. While the tutorial is pretty deep, anything after that is up to the player to learn as they go a long. One false move can totally destroy the gaming experience and make you start over from the beginning. This was the first time in a game that I found the immersion factor to be a little too much. If I am paying for an IOS game I want it to be an experience that I can truly enjoy without feeling like I want to throw my Ipad against a wall. Most people purchase an Ipad game to play in short intervals as they ride the metro home or while hanging out in their home. Uplink may be a bit too hard for those looking to simply escape for a few hours as it requires some critical thinking with what your objections are in the game.
Final Thoughts
Being a port of a classic game, Uplink does offer a true experience for those looking to revisit the fun times they had on their old systems. Uplink works well with new technology and the iommersion factor is top notch for those looking to have fun with an adventure game. I wouldn’t run out and immediately buy the game, Shogunites, but I would give it a shot if you have some free gaming time.
Uplink is available on the Apple App Store for $4.99 and GamingShogun was provided a copy for review
Two things that need to be stated off the top, The Book of Unwritten Tales is a bit silly and it is fun for the whole family. That being said the reason it is fun for the whole family is some of the jokes are visually silly bringing the giggles of the children into play or they are pop culture references that will go right over a kid’s head and smack the adult right in the face. Usually in my reviews you have to wait until the end for final judgement but in this case I wanted to make sure parents knew to pick this up for family friendly fun.
Story Time Kids!:
A goblin professor of archeology discovers an ancient artifact that contains great powers, powers that the bad guys want to harness for their own needs. After his whip is used for a brief escape the story really begins as he enlists the aid of a sexy female elf and a hobbit looking gnome with a magic ring to take two separate adventures for the common goal of getting the artifact into the hands of the good guys. Between those sentences you should get some of the first pop culture references that keep on going through the whole story. The story is well thought out and very original which seems kinda funny when just about every idea is borrowed from something else. The key is the interweaving of references to tell a good coherent story. That’s why it works so well, the character’s may be talking about a game called WOB and subscription rates but on the screen you are seeing a server monkey (literally a monkey) throwing a silly fit. This quite honestly is one of the best told point and click puzzle game stories ever.
Graphics And Audio:
The graphics are really nice and the sound is crisp and clean which works well since the voice acting is excellent and draws you in, never seeming mismatched. The gnome is particularly well acted which is good since he has so many lines and so many of the pop references. The key to great graphics is for them to occasionally make the player stop and admire them which happens and the key to great sound is to not draw much attention to itself which works perfect here. The only slight drawback to these is that there are lots of loads but they are so quick that there is no load screens, just some turning cogs and the next part is ready to go!
Gameplay:
Control wise there is really only so much to be said about a point and click puzzle game since the controls are all point and click. The real question of gameplay in these games comes in about how difficult the puzzles are. A good puzzle game will be able to be solved by it’s target audience but be difficult enough to make the player think, by their nature puzzles are supposed to stimulate the brain. This game does a good job of balancing the two while still having fun with references and silly humor. Many of these games have a hint function in the heads up display but this one doesn’t, which could be one of the frustrating parts of the game for some folks, getting stuck on a puzzle then realizing they had what they needed in their inventory the whole time, that they simply needed to go through a transition for the storyline to continue or that they needed to change characters to solve a puzzle. These issues really make family play a high recommendation because the more minds working on a puzzle the easier it generally is to solve. At a certain point in the game it requires character changes to solve puzzles so that is definitely something to keep in mind.
Last Call:
The Book of Unwritten Tales uses very creative storylines and pop culture references to elevate the game to one I would recommend to the family just so that all the jokes can be gotten. It also helps to have adventure movie geeks playing because just a few of the references without giving away the story are to Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, WoW, The Three Musketeers, Magic the Gathering and believe it or not that really is just naming a few. The game even takes jabs at itself, making fun of the point and click genre and the family fun nature of it. I recommend this game not to just fans of the genre but to fans of pop culture in general. This is a point and click adventure game that is smarter than the sum of its puzzles.
Gameplay Trailer:
Gallery:
Santa Monica, CA – July 16, 2012 – Hey suits, listen up ’cause I’ve got some pretty sweet news to break. I, DEADPOOL, today announced that I’ve… (ahem…we’ve) …yes, right…WE’VE decided to make a kick-butt, butt-kicking new video game based on the awesome-ing-ist Super Hero ever known to man …(and woman, if you know what we’re sayin’) – starring yours truly, ME – DEADPOOL. I know, I know…I pee’d myself a little with excitement just now too (you call that ‘a little?’).
Some of you may know me as the Merc with a Mouth, (or the mercenary for hire) – what can I say; I have skills! (You know who else has skills?)High Moon Studios has skills, and I hired them to make my game, because they’re awesome, and so am I. But they’re not as awesome as I am, if that’s what you’ve heard. (Who’d you hear that from?) (Wait, listen…you smell something?)
Anywho, where was I? Oh yeah, ME, and my game DEADPOOL! With some cashola I ‘borrowed’ (ha!!! riiight…’borrowed’) from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (blah blah) (Nasdaq: ATVI) (blah blah blah), and some of the big cheeses (mmmmm…cheeeeese) from Marvel Entertainment, my DEADPOOLgame will feature all of my favorite things – katanas (check), big guns (and not just these amazing arm muscles)(check), crazy poop-your-pants action (check), hot chicks (check), maybe some of my X-MEN™ friends (well, depending on what they’re wearing), burritos, bouncy houses and of course ME!!! (check)(check) And check!
Here is an assortment of our photos from the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con. Our experiences there were varied, some being exciting as hell and others… not so much. However, no matter what was going on, Comic-Con is NEVER boring or dull. So, enjoy the photos!
At this week’s 2012 San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel and Walt Disney Pictures revealed the logos for their “phase two” series of pictures. This phase will begin with Iron Man 3 on May 3rd of 2013.
(Thanks to AICN for this news)
During this week’s San Diego Comic-Con, the Science Channel hosted a 10th anniversary panel for the cult-show Firefly. The panel features everyone you would want to see in attendance, including Avengers’ director Joss Whedon.
Lionsgate has released a new redband trailer of their upcoming DREDD, just in time for the San Diego Comic-Con!
Bethesda Softworks and id Software have released information regarding the official QuakeCon 2012 tournament schedule and registration details. Check it out!
The QUAKE LIVE Duel Invitational Masters Championship
The QUAKE LIVE Duel Invitational Masters will feature known professionals and top QUAKE LIVE competitors in an exclusive tournament. Thirty-two (32) of the world’s best QUAKE LIVE players, hand selected by tournament staff from the open online registration, will face-off in the 1 vs.1 duel for $20,000 in a single elimination bracket, with each match played in a best-of-three-games format. With two competitors remaining, thousands will gather to watch as these two best-of-the-best survivors go head-to-head in a single elimination, best-of-five-games throw-down with a $9,000 check written to the champion. The tournament will feature a pool of the following five arenas: Aerowalk, Blood Run, Furious Heights, Lost World, and Toxicity.
The Intel QUAKE LIVE Capture the Flag Open
The Intel QUAKE LIVE Open Capture the Flag will feature 4 vs. 4 competitions for up to eight (8) teams battling it out in a double elimination bracket and best-of-three games format, concluding in a best-of-five grand final. Players who come out on top will share prizes of $7,000, including $4,000 for the team of champions. The tournament will feature a pool of the following five arenas: Ironworks, Japanese Castles, Reflux, and Spider Crossings, and Stonekeep.
The Intel QUAKE LIVE Duel Open
Available for up to 64 amateur players, the Intel QUAKE LIVE Duel Open will offer up-and-coming competitors a test of the excitement and pressure of professional gaming. Battling for a share of $2,000, including $1,000 for the champion, players will compete in a single elimination bracket, with each match played in a best-of-three-games format. The tournament will feature a pool of the following five arenas: Battleforged, Campgrounds, Hektik, House of Decay, and Phrantic.
The Intel QUAKE LIVE Random Draw Free For All
Over the course of three days, the QUAKE LIVE Free Play booth will be home to the Intel QUAKE LIVE Random Draw Free For All, where attendees can battle for a share of $1,000. Eight lucky participants will be drawn at random from the crowd to compete in 5 minute FFA Challenges, with the victor of each challenge winning $100. Matches in the Random Draw Free For All will be played in a best-of-one-game format on a randomly selected map from the following map pool: Almost Lost, Asylum, Campgrounds, Cliffside, Devilish, Leviathan, Longest Yard, Quarantine, Retribution, and Trinity. One challenge entry per attendee must be present to participate.
Registration Information
Players may register online by going to registration.quakecon.org between July 13th at 12pm CT and July 31st.
Registration for the QUAKE LIVE Duel Open is first come, first served. Additional on-site registration will be available to fill any remaining tournament slots. Interested parties please visit our tournament area on-site at QuakeCon from noon to 1:00pm CST on Thursday, August 2nd for participation availability.
Players with professional gaming experience or extensive QUAKE LIVE experience interested in receiving an invite to the QUAKE LIVE Duel Invitational Masters must register online at registration.quakecon.org. Tournament invites will be delivered to qualified competitors selected by our competition committee. A complete list of qualified participants will be posted at www.quakecon.org following the selection process. Players selected for QUAKE LIVE Duel Invitational Masters Championship are not eligible for the Open Tournament or the Intel QUAKE LIVE Random Draw Free For All challenges.
For official rules, requirements, prize money distribution, pool of arenas and additional information, please go to www.quakecon.org/tournament.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC have released their official Comic-Con trailer for Injustice: Gods Among Us – enjoy!
