Codemasters to release Damnation™ – 2009

A vertical Challenge.

by XboxOZ360

This section is dedicated to games that are fronting new innovation in gameplay, environments, character building, or aspects which fall outside the normal “sequel” style of game. Some may be a continuation of a current franchise, but have been rebuilt from the ground up with totally different style and new unique features.

Such as the new Prince Of Persia from Ubisoft. So enjoy the games in here, some are older and have been in development for some time, which is normal with almost all games, remembering that games generally take 3-5 yrs to develop, and more in some cases.

So settle back and we will endeavour to bring you new and “Unique” games as the time goes on, there will be a few more placed in here soon, so drop back again soon. Rss us so you know when we do an update as well.

©2008 Grant Smythe

Here we have yet another entry into the Sci-Fi Shooter genre’. This time from Blue Omega which was signed up by Codemasters to deliver their new shooter, Damnation™.

It will be interesting to see how well this is received, or will it simply slip under the shelf like many others. Being released around Summer (US), it could face some heavy opposition. But, like all things gaming, it could slip, but knowing Codies, they’ll most likely push for a on-time-release.

Press Release: Codemasters- Evolving the shooter genre with its unique and exhilarating combination of fluid action and combat, Damnation will feature huge, open environments, frenetic combat, daredevil acrobatics and high-octane vehicle-based stunts. Presenting players with an intense test of reflexes, quick thinking and rapid-fire conflict, Damnation will feature vast, breathtaking landscapes, each covering miles of distance and thousands of vertical feet.

Billed as a ‘shooter gone vertical’ and visually inspired by iconic elements of American history, these massive streaming landscapes will form the battlegrounds for a post-industrial conflict between humanity and an unstoppable arms dealer hell-bent on total world domination.

Complete Press Release & Screens after the link:-

A Single Player & Multiplayer Merge Like No Other

The Crossing coming to Xbox 360

An innovative FPS going cross-platform gaming where YOU can become the NPC’s

by XboxOZ360

© 2008 Grant Smythe

Now this one has been siting around for a little while and has decided to pop its head up once more. Created by the well respected French Developers Arkane Studios, who have brought you such delights as Dark Messiah of Might And Magic, bring you this, their new take on Single Player – Multiplayer Merging. The Crossing. The videos are worth the watch, and check out the screenshots in the Media Department toward the end of this post.

It’s where Single Player comes in contact with Multiplayer, and where you could play the role of a NPC, or have someone drop in on you and be playing the role of any NPC within the story line. It’s not your average First Person Shooter, that’s for sure, and will have you grabbing your head in amazement as to how all this will work.

More Screens and Video just follow the link

• 2 Days 2 Vegas – by Steel Monkeys

Official word from Steel Monkey’s – 2 Days 2 Vegas IS coming to the 360

by XboxOZ360:

© 2008 Grant Smythe

This has been a game I’ve had on the radar and the 360 Games Listing since early 2005. When it appeared on the net with some outstanding screen shots everyone was debunking as “real” photos, and saying it’ll never appear. Many claiming my facts were most certainly wrong, and I was misguided in believing such a game could appear on the 360.

Yesterday, news rose of an “Exclusive” preview of the PS3 and PC title 2 Days 2 Vegas with no mention of the words Xbox 360, thus fueling heaps of PS3 lovers who loved fanning the “Nah Nah Nah it’s OUR Exclusive Fire” . . . In fact, it was that PSU were having an “exclusive interview” with the developers and omitted the mention of the 360 in their article/announcement. That of course lead to the net ‘assuming’ the game was definitely not coming to the 360, after all, it couldn’t handle such a game in the first place.

It wasn’t as if he was misleading anyone, simply relaying the facts as he knew them at the time, it’s how some “fans” take things out of context, and fan them into a roaring fire. I find PSU a great site, and while they are primarily a Sony Playstation site, they support most platforms relatively unbiasedly unlike some who claim to be multiplatform, yet show a distinct bias towards their platform of choice.

After some confusion, PSU writer contacted Steel Moneys, and they assured the writer that yes, the game is definitely coming to the 360 . . . irrespective of the comments that have been made n the net to the contrary.

From Steel Monkeys:

Update: We have added that 2 Days 2 Vegas will appear on the Xbox 360. We have talked with Steel Monkey and it is confirmed that the title will release on both PS3 and Xbox 360 as well as PC. More details on that on Monday.

Full article and 40 screen shots follow the link

• THEY: – by Metropolis

Yes, well, what can I say about the name . .I’m “sure” many gamers will have somethingto say about it. As it seems that if a game doesn’t have an outlandishly descriptive name, like Blood Gultch, The Reaper, Zombies Galour etc, they dismiss it as just some simple, silly named game.

By doing so, many gamers will no doubt do themselves a great disservice, and possibly miss out on an excellent game. THEY could well be one of them. From all accounts, it looks like yet another different take on the FPS Genre’, done in such a way as to attract not only a new audience, but older ones looking for a new FPS experience.

Games such as this, and the likes of Alan Wake, Rainy Woods, The Ship etc, all sound rather bland, yet when you read up on them, you find new and innovative ways the developers are using current genre’s, yet at the same time, beginning to open them up to different possibilities . Below is a snippet of a Preview IGN did of THEY recently, do follow the link and finish the 2 page review, as it does explain a great deal more about this “interesting’ new 360 title.

Source: IGN – UK
Author: Rob Burman
Posted: UK, September 4, 2007
Site link here

THEY First Impressions

” Metropolis unveils its customisation-crazy FPS. We brave robot menaces with aliens on their heads to find out more.
by , IGN UK

UK, September 4, 2007 – It’s hardly news that, over the years, the videogame market has been flooded by first-person shooters. Of course, that means developers are increasingly looking for a unique hook to differentiate their game from the competition – whether that’s super powers, futuristic locations, performance enhancing drugs or underwater worlds. Enter the shooter scene nowadays without a new angle and you’re basically screwed – or at least, unlikely to be lauded from the rooftops. Luckily then, developer IMC/Metropolis has come up trumps with THEY’s rather nifty ruse, turning a fairly standard FPS into a kind of Pimp My Gun for the customisation generation.

We’ll hold off tackling THEY’s special bits just yet though. First some background: THEY is set in London four years in the future, the city ravaged by numerous terrorist attacks – which doesn’t bode well for the 2012 Olympics. Just as it looks like things can’t get any worse, a bunch of alien robots invade and kick up the mother of all ruckuses. Initially, it looks like the robots are the main threat. However, as you uncover more on these weird androids, it transpires they’re actually being manipulated by the spooky-looking Phantoms. We’ll have more on that relationship later.

Pimping weapons is certainly THEY’s most exciting feature.

According to Polish developer IMC/Metropolis, it wants to create a story that’s wrapped in mysteries and puzzles. During development, the team has been inspired by TV shows including Lost, the X-Files and even Heroes. As a result, you can expect plenty of twists and turns along the way. Obviously though, IMC/Metropolis is playing its cards close to its chest on the story front so let’s get to the gameplay.

Our first look at the game centred around a very small London square, ravaged by apparent warfare. It featured sandbags strewn as haphazard defences, derelict buildings damaged by countless fire fights and, of course, a red telephone box – evidentally now considered convenient shorthand for transatlantic recognition. Sadly no sign of double deckers, the queen, the Spice Girls or a hilarious joke about bad teeth as yet. Of course, this being the next generation and all, it’s possible to some destroy buildings with a well placed grenade or two which, interestingly, is more than a simple aesthetic gimmick – laying waste to buildings uncovers shortcuts through levels and even secret power-ups. However, it’s worth remembering that being hit by falling debris is seriously bad for your health so take precautions.

Read Full Preview:-

• The Wheelman:

I’ve seen the promo video posted earlier this year, and was immediately interested in this game . . .

Here’s a series of scans that appear in a new gaming mag in Europe called PlayLipse.fr showing several screen shots, a small interview with Vin Diesel . . so please check them oiut, and share with us your thoughts on the game. You’ll find a Promo-video of the game up on XboxLive Video Libary to view as well.

Well worth the effort and provides excellent viewing pleasure.