Living LIVE News Report 08.15.11
Posted by Trace Aber on 08.15.2011
News and thoughts on Red Dead Redemption reaching a new sales milestone, the Indie Games Summer Uprising, Counter-Strike Global Offensive coming to Xbox 360, RAGE's unique method of preventing used game sales and more!
Welcome everyone to another issue of the Living LIVE News Report, and as always, I'm your host for the evening, Trace Aber. Unfortunately this will be a rather short issue as a family problem has come up, but on the plus side there didn't seem to be a whole lot of big news on the 360 front anyways. So let's get underway with the news!
Indie Games Summer Uprising Release Schedule Announced
When the first indie games uprising took place last winter there was a lot of hype and anticipation to see what some of the best indie developers could come up with. It was supposed to draw attention to the channel that, at the time, was largely ignored by just about everyone outside of a select few. The hope was to make people aware that not every game on there is horrible, and some are actually quite good.
Things didn't go as planned, however. First off, Microsoft made it impossible for a developer to give a definitive release and instead released the game once it went through the review process. Plus, outside of those in the uprising there was very little promotion. I think Microsoft did end up putting a little box for it in the spotlight, but it was all the way at the end and by that point it was too little, too late. All the same, there were some great games released during the uprising and hope held out that in the future a better revolution could take place.
Since then, Microsoft has really made things easier for indie developers to do certain things (though there is still much work to do), including setting up specific dates for when a game releases. The verdict is still out regarding whether or not Microsoft will go out of their way to promote it, but at the very least games shouldn't be late or completely unreleased. The full list is below, with the final two games being chosen in the Facebook fan vote.
Monday, Aug. 22: Raventhrone Tuesday, Aug. 23: Battle High: San Bruno Wednesday, Aug. 24: Cute Things Dying Violently Thursday, Aug. 25: T.E.C. 3001 Friday, Aug. 26: Doom and Destiny Monday, Aug. 29: Take Arms Tuesday, Aug. 30: SpeedRunner HD Wednesday, Aug. 31: Train Frontier Express Thursday, Sept. 1: Fan Vote No. 1 Friday, Sept. 2: Fan Vote No. 2
So there you have it – ten games released over ten games, all promising to be the very best the indie channel has to offer. You can check out all the details on each game by visiting the official website.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Coming to Xbox 360
Around Friday of last week rumors began flying around that Valve might finally release a new game, and that it wasn't going to be Half Life 2: Episode 3 or Half Life 3. Instead, those rumors were for a sequel to the PC juggernaut Counter-Strike, which started out as a mod and quickly became one of the most popular online games of all time. Despite it coming out in 1999, tons of people still play the game regularly and tournaments are still held to determine the best of the best.
It turns out those rumors, started by various testers, turned out to be true just a few hours later, when Valve announced Counter-Strike: Global Offensive for, not surprisingly, the PC, but more surprisingly, the PS3 and Xbox 360. According to the press release, CS:GO will feature new maps, weapons, characters, and updated versions of classic maps such as de_dust. On top of all that, there will be a new matchmaking system and game modes, and according to Craig Levine of ESEA News, Valve is "keen on hearing the input from top [Counter-Strike Source] players to make CS GO an e-sports title."
In fact, there will supposedly be both competitive and casual game modes, each with dedicated servers. Levine noted that the "maps look beautiful, the player skins and animations are smooth, and the gun models are cool!" As far as new weapons, testers got to try out a new heavy machine gun rifle, shotgun and pistol.
Valve also plans to do away with everybody picking the same, powerful gun that plagues a lot of FPS. Instead of simply blasting everybody away with a Desert Eagle, some situations might require the use of a sub machine gun or a shotgun, meaning you'll have to plan accordingly.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is "targeted" for an early 2012 release on the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation 3's PlayStation Network, Mac and PC in early 2012.
News and Notes THQ recently announced that the Red Faction series is pretty much done after Armageddon failed to live up to expectations, and it appears that the MX Vs ATV franchise is done as well, meaning over 200 employees will lost their jobs.
Upcoming shooter RAGE will have a unique version of the now standard online-pass, in that it won't actually mess with any online components. Instead, new copies of the game will allow access to the sewer hatches throughout the game, which according to id creative director Tim Willits "doesn't detract from the main game." No idea what's in the sewers, but I like this better than most anti-used game measures.
Since it's May 2010 release, Red Dead Redemption has sold more than 11 million units. The Theater
The Digital Downloads Arcade Games
Fruit Ninja Kinect (800MP)
Toy Soldiers: Cold War [08-17-11] (1200MP) DLC
Mortal Kombat: Freddy Krueger (400MP) Games on Demand
You Don't Know Jack ($29.99)
World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars ($19.99)
Adrenalin Misfits [Kinect Only] ($39.99)
Record of Agarest War ($29.99) Demos
Madden NFL 12
Driver: San Francisco Single Player Demo
Driver: San Francisco Multiplayer Demo [08-16-11]
Signing Out
That does it for me this week. Be sure to check back next week as we discuss all of the latest Xbox 360 news, including releases, rumors and reviews! Also, don't forget to bookmark 411Mania! And a note to all of the Indie Game developers out there – if you have an upcoming title that's going to be released soon drop me a line at traceaber@gmail.com and let me know. I'll write a full review of your game to be posted on 411Mania.com, which is a great way to get your game promoted!
