The Good, The Bad and The Ugly 05.18.09: Tony Hawk is Ready to Ride, First Details on Guitar Hero 5 and More!

Posted by Armando Rodriguez on 05.18.2009

Plus, Blizzard's new MMO, rumors of a PS3 Slim and lots more!

It is that time of the week again! Welcome to The Good, The Bad and The Ugly News Report! I am Armando Rodriguez and I will guide you through this week's rollercoaster of news and rumors. This week I also got my grubby little hands on Plants vs Zombies for the PC (review coming soon) and I have to tell you all that game is crack. Seriously, is addictive as anything I have ever played. In other words, let's rush through this report so I can go back and play!

Biggest News of the Week: Tony Hawk Ride is Coming!

Last June, the now-infamous Intellisponse leak took the wraps off the now-revealed Xbox Live Avatars, karaoke game Lips, and Guitar Hero World Tour neck slide. Now, yet another game accidentally unmasked by the market-research firm has been officially announced.

This morning, the Tony Hawk Ride Web site--http://thride.com/--went live, revealing the title, platforms, and developer of the long-awaited relaunch of Activision's Tony Hawk series. As predicted by the aforementioned leak and subsequent reports, the game will use a skateboard controller and will be released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. As can be seen in the shot of the game, the peripheral will be a wireless full-sized skate dek, and it will have the buttons located along one side.

Not revealed in the Intellisponse leak was that Tony Hawk Ride will also be coming to the Wii, nor the indentity of its developers. Upstart shop Robomodo--which rose from the ashes of EA Chicago--is one of the shops working on the project, as had been suspected since Neversoft revealed it was no longer involved with the Tony Hawk series. Also present on the site is the logo for Portland, Oregon-based Buzz Monkey--which worked on Tomb Raider: Underworld (but not as the primary developer).

The game's official site promises more information on June 2--the first day of the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo, which GameSpot will be covering live from Los Angeles.

Credit: Gamespot.com

Time to go for a Ride

GOOD: I know that Skate left Mr. Hawk in the dust, but I am excited to see the Tony Hawk series making a comeback. The series is a big part of my teenage memories, with the first three installments seeing constant play in my Nintendo 64 and playing Tony Hawk 4 to death on the PS2. The skate-shaped controller looks like a neat idea *after all, they needed to do SOMETHING to set themselves apart from Skate* and it will be nice to see how it all works out in the end. Hopefully, it brings a solid gameplay experience to back up the apparent innovation of its controller's design.


Guitar Hero 5 Details Emerge

Last week, Activision officially confirmed that Guitar Hero 5 would arrive this fall, bringing with it an "unprecedented level of control over the way [people] play the game." As for more specific details on the next flagship installment inits burgeoning rhythm game franchise, Activision was planning on sitting tight until closer to this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, which runs June 1-4 in Los Angeles.

Unfortunately for Activision--though, good for gamers--one of the publisher's publicity partners had other ideas, unofficially releasing an official press release for the game today. As detailed by the announcement, Guitar Hero 5 will include a number of tweaks and additions over Guitar Hero World Tour, which released in November for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, and PC to positive reviews.

Notably, the release offered a look at Guitar Hero 5's set list. Songs listed as part of the errant announcement include The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil," Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," The White Stripes' "Blue Orchid," Tom Petty's "Runnin' Down a Dream," Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire," and Kings of Leon's "Sex on Fire."

The release also stated that gamers will no longer be restricted to one instrument, one player rules that have defined the series and its rival Rock Band. Instead, rhythm rockers will be able to use any combination of instruments for any given song, with Activision giving the example of two guitars and two drums rocking out together. Gameplay modes mentioned were Party Play and RockFest. Taking a page out of MTV Games' playbook, Activision also said that all Guitar Hero World Tour downloadable content will be compatible with Guitar Hero 5. The publisher also said that all new features introduced with Guitar Hero 5 will be retroactively applied to tunes from the older game.

Activision had not responded to requests for comment on the unintentional announcement as of press time.
Credit: gamespot.com

GOOD: First of all, I am happy because this is the ONLY Guitar Hero news this week! Second of all, I like what they have announced for the set list so far: Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones? I am so there! Same instrument multiplayer is a no-brainer *having two drummers is going to be INSANE* and something that will set them apart from Rock Band. Backwards compatible DLC is another no-brainer if only because Rock Band already did it and also because I won't spend extra money to download songs I already have. The only thing we need to take the wait and see approach on is the gameplay itself, especially the band progression. Are we getting something new or the same old and tired tier method? So far GH5 looks like a refined version of World Tour instead of a revolutionary entry in the series.

Take-Two sues 3D Realms

Conspiracy theorists maintain that 3D Realms' closure last week was all part of some grand scheme to unveil a finished Duke Nukem Forever at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo. If that is the case, it would appear Duke Nukem Forever's publisher has been caught up in the ruse, as Take-Two has filed suit against 3D Realms over the PC shooter.

According to the suit, 3D Realms--incorporated as Apogee Software Ltd.--failed to deliver on its contract to produce the game, instead shutting the project and the studio down on May 6. The suit also states that Take-Two paid 3D Realms $12 million in 2000 for publishing rights to the shooter, with a second, unspecified contract agreed upon in 2007. Development on Duke Nukem Forever began in 1997, the suit states.

"Apogee continually delayed the completion date for the Duke Nukem Forever," Take-Two said in the complaint, according to a Bloomberg report. "Apogee repeatedly assured Take-Two and the video-gaming community that it was diligently working toward competing development of the PC version of the Duke Nukem Forever."

Take-Two is also seeking to prevent 3D Realms from revealing any source code and assets related to the project. Many of those assets have already been leaked onto the Internet, however, as a number of former 3D Realms employees uploaded concept art and demo reels to their personal blogs and online portfolios following the studio's closure. That content has since been removed from its original sources, but not before seeing mass proliferation across a variety of Web sites and message boards.

Take-Two declined to offer additional comment on the pending litigation.
Credit:Gamespot.com

Now you know where I got the money for the hookers. Shake it baby!

UGLY: Poor 3D Realms…right? I mean, they just went down after taking a measly $12 million bucks from Take-Two. I have a feeling in my gut that Take-Two will see Duke Nukem Forever completed, even if another developer has to take over. I won't enter into much detail about the lawsuit *that is Joe Roche's forte* but I sympathize with Take-Two in this case, I mean, if I put millions of dollars into something I expect to see it completed.

Sony Gives Away Rag-Doll Kung-Fu for Free

Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic received a critical drubbing when it first debuted for $9.99 on the PlayStation Network in April. Happening upon perhaps the best way for gamers to forgive the game its faults, Sony said as part of its PlayStation Network update that it would be partnering with Sprint to give the game away. Sony did not specify when the offer would expire, saying only that it would be available on the house "this week."
Credit: Gamespot.com

Free Kung-Fu Fighting!

GOOD for every one else, UGLY for me. I mean, I just paid $10 for this game a couple of week's ago and now they give it away for free? C'mon Sony, I hope you refund that money to my account or something. As for the rest of the world, download this game! It is a pretty solid local-multiplayer experience with many positive similarities to Smash Bros. and a helpful dose of its own humor.

Activision's Next MMORPG to be New IP

Rumors of a "World of Starcraft" were jettisoned this week when a Blizzard Entertainment representative revealed that the company's next MMOG will be based on an entirely new franchise. When it is finally released, the new, mystery-shrouded game will end the company's 11-year elaboration of its three mainstay franchises: Starcraft, Warcraft, and Diablo.

On Tuesday, Blizzard rep "Zarhym" posted on the World of Warcraft forums that the new MMOG was already underway and that "it'll be a brand-new franchise, which means the lore, art, and gameplay are being developed entirely from scratch." He added, "We have nothing to advertise for the new MMO because it's a shell of a game thus far."

Blizzard Entertainment declined to comment on any further details.

The revelation comes after previous admissions by Blizzard that a new MMOG was in the works, though this is the first time that Blizzard admitted the game was a new franchise. In January 2007, Blizzard revealed that it was already planning for a fresh MMOG that Blizzard's vice president of entertainment, Itzik Ben Bassat, described as "something innovative and new that really brings entertainment to another level."

By October 2008, there were already clues that the MMOG would be an original property. In an interview with Wired, Blizzard CEO Michael Morhaime said that the game would "not be a sequel to World of Warcraft. It will be different," adding that the game would be so different that it wouldn't compete with World of Warcraft.

In a 2007 forum post, Blizzard rep "Drysc" responded to rumors about two job listings for "Next-Gen MMO" artists, stating that the job listings were for an "unannounced Next-Gen MMO," adding "and that doesn't mean for World of Warcraft, either." This February, Blizzard's lead designer Jeffrey Kaplan (aka "Tigole") left his post as game director of World of Warcraft and its new expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, so he could oversee work on the new game.

The last time Blizzard released a new franchise was in 1998, with the distribution of Starcraft. By storming ahead with a new franchise, Blizzard Entertainment hopes to further fatten its engorged pocketbooks. Last week, Activision Blizzard announced that it had exceeded expectations and pocketed $981 million for the January-March quarter. During that period, the company earned more than $100 million a month from MMORPGs sales and subscriptions.
Credit: Gamespot.com


GOOD: First of all, I am NOT huge on MMORPG's, but I like the idea of Blizzard doing something new. They have basically worked the same 3 franchises for their entire existence and having a new IP is not only fresh, but might open up the possibility of more games based on this IP, not necessarily MMO, but other games in other genres based on this IP if everything works out. That is what we need, more news things and new properties to experience instead of the same series getting released over and over because they are "known" and "commercial". I am also curious about the game being "so different that it will not compete with WOW"…..what could it be about? A MMORPG/cooking sim? Or a MMORPG rockstar sim that uses plastic instruments?

And now it is time to debut a new feature for this column that I like to call The Rumor Report. Original huh? Well, here I will address those news that are not news yet, just rumors started because of some leak or press release or what not.

Confirmation of a PS3 Slim?

Rumors circulated the internet yesterday regarding a supposedly leaked set of photos of Sony's "PS3 Slim." Previous hardware choices on Sony's part, including the slimmer PS2 and the PSP-2000, would suggest that Sony would eventually create a slimmer version of its powerhouse hardware, but would it be so soon after the system's launch?

Today, we received word that a trustworthy US GameStop employee discussed the matter with a Sony merchandizing representative. When the leaked photos were brought up in private conversation, the merchandizing representative was immediately surprised that the photos were "released already," but then hastily dismissed the subject when the rep realized that it was regarding a rumor. Could this reaction indicate that the PS3 Slim is more real than we originally thought?

We certainly take this information with a grain of salt, but it at least enhances the possibility that a PS3 Slim will arrive sometime in the future.
Credit: IGN.com

Are they putting this fatboy on a diet?

BAD: How many PS3 models we have seen since launch? 4? 5? I have lost count. If we add a Slim model, it will be one too many. I don't think size has been a factor in people's decisions to buy or not buy the PS3 *it is the huge price point fellas* so I do not think a new model will increase sales. Plus, I guess that to make it slimmer you have to take out some functionality *like USB and SD Card slots* and I'd rather have a chunky system with all the extras than a slim model that is basic at best.

Call of Duty 7 Already in Development?

Last week, rumors surfaced that Activision was working on "Call of Duty 7," the next chapter in the wildly popular first-person shooter series. They stemmed from a report on That Videogame Blog, which said that the publisher was looking for "Vietnam War-era tunes, as well as Cuban, African, and Soviet Union music."

Besides hinting that the game might be set in some of the many guerrilla-conflict hotspots of the Cold War, the now-pulled report indicated that Treyarch was once again developing. The report made sense, given the annual alternation of Infinity Ward and Treyarch's Call of Duty projects--and the fact that the game formerly known as Call of Duty 6 is now the Call of Duty-less spin-off Modern Warfare 2.

Now comes further proof that Treyarch is already hard at work on a new entry in the series. According to the LinkedIn resume of an animator at the shop (name withheld), "Call Of Duty 7" is listed as "currently in production." Activision reps had not responded to requests for comment about Treyarch's current project as of press time.

The resume offers no other details on Call of Duty 7, including platforms, ratings, or a release date. However, given that Modern Warfare 2 is due out November 10, 2009, a fall 2010 release date appears likely. If the past two games are a precedent, an M for Mature rating and multiplatform release are also all but assured.
Credit: Gamespot.com

GOOD: A non-WWII Call of Duty? Hell yes! Really, WWII is getting stale and a move to the Vietnam War or the Korean War would be welcome. Hell, why not move it as far back as the Civil War or the Independence War? I know the weapons are not as cool as today's weapons, but a first-person look at the battles and tactics of that time would be good and different, which is what we need.

Useless News of the Week: Midway Creditors Sue New and Old Investors

Just days after Midway Games filed for bankruptcy, a number of its creditors filed a formal objection to the November 2008 sale of controlling interest in the company for the bargain-basement sum of $100,000. That deal saw media mogul (and executive chairman of GameSpot parent company CBS) Sumner Redstone sell his 87 percent stake in the Mortal Kombat publisher--valued at $30 million--to Mark Thomas, along with millions in secured loans that Sumner had made to the publisher through his National Amusements Inc. holding company.

Now the creditors have gone beyond their initial objection and outright sued Redstone, Thomas, and the Midway board of directors. At the heart of the dispute is the sale, which creditors say "caused Midway irretrievably to lose the ability to take advantage of its valuable accumulated net operating losses and other tax assets." In other words, the publisher was robbed of its losses.

According to the complaint (filed as part of Midway's bankruptcy proceedings), Redstone's sale of Midway resulted in more than $700 million in tax losses that would offset his taxable income and entitle him to refunds. Those offsets could have been attractive to a potential buyer of Midway, but with the company's value effectively set at $100,000, the suit states that the publisher lost the ability to claim them in a restructuring or sale.

As the controlling shareholder in the company, Redstone owed a fiduciary duty to Midway and its creditors, the complaint alleges, one that he violated by acting solely in his own interest at the expense of the company and the debt holders. Meanwhile, Thomas (who the suit describes as "an individual of relatively limited means and sophistication") is alleged to have purchased the publisher "for the sole and exclusive purpose" of collecting on millions in secured loans that National Amusements had made to Midway prior to the bankruptcy.

A spokeswoman with National Amusements told Bloomberg News, "This suit is completely without merit. The conduct of Mr. Redstone and NAI was entirely proper, and we strongly disagree with any suggestion that Mr. Redstone or NAI breached any fiduciary duties."
Credit: Gamespot.com

USELESS: Does anybody care anymore? The drama has played out. I am officially tired of the Midway deal. If they are going down, let them, if they are going to stay, let them. But stop the never-ending circle of news about it. It is like every time we think Midway is safe, something bad happens and when we think they are finally going under, something good happens and we are back to step 1. I don't think Midway will survive this year. I really wish they would because they made some good games, but the reality is that I don't think they will. Now Midway, stop being the Brett Favre of the games section and just get away from the spotlight for a while!

: The Reader's Voice:

: Last week we asked: The Casual Games Craze has been positive or negative for the business?

Unfortunately, we had a grand total of zero answers for this question. But I had a few interesting emails about the subject, especially people asking me to post why I hate casual games so much. I can give you a wide variety of reasons on why I hate them, but the truth is I don't. I don't hate casual games. I hate BAD games that are pushed to the market under the guise of casual games. For example, depending on who you ask, games like The Sims, Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon are casual games. I happen to love those games. Mario Party, Wii Sports and Wii Play are all casual games and I happen to love them. My problem is with the developers that fill the aisles with bad mini-game collections that provide all of five minutes of enjoyment and ask you to pay $30+ for them and when you realize how short and horrible they are, they simply say "It is meant to be short because it is a casual game". That is my problem.

The same happens on the PC. There are too many simple, repetitive, mindless, "casual" titles that sell for upwards of $20 in many downloadable game sites. This is a rip-off. However, I think smart buyers are able to discern the good from the crap themselves, so I won't touch the subject too much. I do have a problem with Nintendo and it has nothing to do with their system or their games. I love Nintendo and at least 8 of every 10 Nintendo-made games I have played in my life (which have to be over 100 by now) I have enjoyed. As a matter of fact, Nintendo is one of the few game companies that I blindly recommend to my friends. Whenever they ask me about a game and I ask "who made it?" and they say "Nintendo" I always tell them to get it because Nintendo games/peripherals/consoles are always good and durable. But I do have a problem with their quality control *or lack of it* on the Wii. I really don't want to name a specific game, simply because I feel it is unwarranted. But I have played quite a few Wii games that did not deserved to be released at all. They where simple, five-minute things that had no redeeming value whatsoever and I don't even know how they got permission to be published. If I buy a bad game, hell, I work and make my own money, so I guess I can just sell it/trade it in and get something new. But what happens to little kids who have no jobs and are saving from their allowance to get themselves a game? It hurts when you save every penny you can find and end up with crap. I have seen this happen before to my little cousins (all Wii owners) and when a five-year old kid that can have fun with an empty pizza box HATES a game because IT IS NO FUN you know that you have crap on your hands. Kids usually have fun with anything *I had FUN with Shaq-Fu when I was growing up* and if even they hate the game, who is going to like it?

To close out my little rant (and hopefully answer all the questions asked of me by email) I just hope Nintendo tightens the noose a bit. You know, that they request that game companies publishing games for the Wii meet the same standards of quality Nintendo does. The "casual games craze" can help the business by attracting new gamers, but if we want to make those "casual" gamers into "hardcore" gamers that will continue to support the industry we need to do make sure they have a good experience with every game they play. That way they will come back for more.

Now, on to this week's question:

Which is the Worst Game You Have Ever Played?

Don't forget that your answers will become a part of next week's The Good, The Bad and The Ugly News Report.

Goodbye

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