EA’s request to dismiss a class action lawsuit from former NCAA athletes has been denied, meaning the trial will movie forward and EA stands to lose more than $1 billion if found at fault.

The former NCAA athletes claim EA conspired with the NCAA and the CLC to have players sign away their likenesses and names to be used in video games without compensation. The players allege that in order to participate in NCAA sports they were required to sign a form allowing EA their likenesses in games, even after their college sports careers ended.

The federal judge previously dismissed other claims in the lawsuit, but denied EA’s attempt to have an antitrust claim thrown out.

EA is facing more than a few lawsuits at the moment, but it did recently settle a two-year-old lawsuit with Activision, with as-yet undisclosed concessions from either side.

Former NCAA athletes’ lawsuit against EA is so on originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I have two words for you: Minecraft Phenomenon.

When I took on Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition, I had volunteered to review it for nothing else but simple curiosity. Even though I’ve been seeing mention of this game in Internet articles for a while now and I’ve heard people talking in hushed tones about the game around the office water cooler, I had no idea what Minecraft was and I needed to find out for myself what all the fuss was about.

In terms of most recent Xbox LIVE Arcade games, it’s a very modestly sized download and in fact I’m certain half the reason it’s the most downloaded XBLA title in its first 24 hours after release is because it’s so small. Why is it so small, I hear you ask? Well, that’s simple – the game’s graphics basically comprise stacked low-resolution blocks, and the game’s sound is a primitive assortment of mostly synthesised bits. The best way to describe the graphics is the Dire Straits music video ‘Money for Nothing’ meets Lego.

With this mental picture in mind, the game looks hideously outdated but thankfully – to borrow from an old literary saying – avid gamers do not judge a game by its cover screen.

Not quite a chip off the old block… this is revolutionary!

At first play, Minecraft felt quite painful, akin to a developer’s first efforts at writing a game. It isn’t flashy or visually impressive. It’s slow, there’s too much menu stuff to negotiate, and the music is rather dull and dreary. Most short-sighted and impatient gamers would probably discard the game quite quickly because it isn’t your standard run-of-the-mill action blockbuster with high fidelity graphics and 8.3 THX-rated surround sound.

Thankfully (in this instance), reviewing a game requires strict perseverance and dedication, and with this review title these attributes pay off. If you’ll pardon the pun, Minecraft is going to require the players doing a bit of digging to uncover the pure gem that Minecraft truly is.

I’ll say it now – Minecraft is so good that I’ve actually had to stop playing it. If you give Mincecraft some time, you’ll soon be sucked in. Your time spent pounding trees and mining dirt in the game will spiral out of control just like the deep open pits you’ll have dug into the world’s terrain. You’ll forget to eat and will miss your bedtime because you’re too busy trying to get that last little bit of your master plan done. Yes, this game is a fun volcano blended into a time vortex.

I’ve played this game almost non-stop since I’ve received it and I’ve spent hours playing split-screen multiplayer. The game supports up to four players drop-in / drop-out on a local Xbox or up to eight over Xbox LIVE, but the real beauty of Minecraft is how deep and rich the game environment is and just how much freedom players have to explore, dig, build, and create.

Even the multiplayer is left up to you: we’ve tried our hand at cooperative gameplay as well as a free-for-all. The choice is yours. Play a challenge level where two players are tasked with building a self-contained double-storey home while the other two must use natural disasters to thwart their goal. Fancy racing to be the first to corral a pig? The first to build the highest tower? The deepest dungeon? It’s all up to you and that’s at the heart of Minecraft – absolute freedom and no boundaries, apart from the ones you create.

You can be crafty, if you want to be…

It’s not quite a puzzle game but it can be played like as such (I’ve heard rumours that someone built a fully operational in-game calculator with relays and switches), or played just like a kingdom building adventure. Whatever your tastes, this game offers almost everything.

My friend Andrew has unleashed his two young boys on the game and they’ve already unravelled the mysteries of glass making and gravity, fluid dynamics, and smelting. Real-life lessons! Oltman, my wife, and I built a communal hobbit hole complete with bedside tables and lamps (little did they know I had a secret tunnel leading to my own underground forest and second home).

This particular adventure revealed a lot to me about the diversity within the game – I tamed five wolves that followed me everywhere. Not being allowed to keep my pets in the house, I created a pressure pad system linked to our front door so my wolves could come and go when they needed to, without distracting the inhabitants of the home. Do you get the idea of how awesome this game can be?

The developers put a lot of thought into this one… they were very mineful indeed!

There’s too much to talk about in this game – do you like zombies? Check. Bad nasty monsters that come out at night? Check. Livestock to sheer, eat, ride, or let loose? Check. Lava waterfalls? Check. Weapon-crafting? Check. Digital tinkering? Check! I simply can’t give this game enough credit in my short review space – this is one of the best games I’ve ever played and is certainly a strong contender for a few awards this year. It’s a complete breath of fresh air and there’s been nothing like it before that I’ve seen or played.

The starting price for this title is 1600 Microsoft Points, which is truly hefty for an Xbox LIVE Arcade title, but in this case it’s Points well spent. This game will endure for a long time and the best part is all future updates for the game will be free – and there are a few interesting updates on the horizon, including mods, texture packs and rumoured Xbox Kinect functionality, as well as cross-platform playability with the PC version.

“Shall this be mine?” you ask?

If you’re sitting on the fence about whether or not to buy this game my only advice to you is this: If you’re looking for a reason to chip away time then look no further than Minecraft. If you are worried that your time is precious, or if you’re studying for exams, need to work long hours or wake up really early most days, if you need to work on a relationship with your significant other, or if you’re prone to the ‘just one more turn’ sickness, do not buy this game!

It is extremely, highly, unforgivably addictive and you will lose more time in Minecraft than you can dare to imagine. It’s a fantastic game and for this reason anyone fitting into the latter group of people should definitely not try this at home. You and your social life have been warned. It has my vote for best arcade title of 2012, by far!

The Good: It’s good fun for all ages; It’s educational; Absolute freedom to do what you want; Best Xbox LIVE Arcade title this year

The Bad: There’s no getting away from the addictiveness of this game

Rating: 5 stars
Contributor: Bryan

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I have made no secret that I think story is the most important part of gaming for me. Yes, it usually ties together with how the game is played and where it is set, but without a good story, many games fall flat on their faces. Nowhere is a story as important as in an adventure game, so when I played episode one of The Walking Dead, I was kind of hoping the story would be good enough to draw my attention.

The end result was me playing the same game three times, just because the story was so darn good! Plus every time I played I could choose a different outcome – one that would not only affect the game I was currently playing, but also the future episodes of the series. To better explain, I think it’s best for me to start walking and stop running.

The Walking Dead: Episode 1 is a traditional point and click adventure game set in the apocalypse, as described in the Walking Dead comics. The TV series by the same name is also based on the comics, but the game has very little to do with the series… actually, that’s not true. They’re both serialized productions set in the same universe, but have no relation.

TellTale games, the team behind games like Sam ‘n Max and Tales of Monkey Island, is also behind the wheel for this one. As much fun as those previous adventures were, set in two of the most beloved adventure game franchises in the history of everything everywhere, the Walking Dead is simply on a whole different level.

To begin with, the subject matter is very much more mature. The world has come to an end thanks to the Zombie horde, and surviving longer than a few days will require all of your wits and none of your squeamishness. It is bloody, violent and extremely in your face, but nowhere is the violence gratuitous. You’re simply trying to survive.

The graphical style is also very different to Telltale’s other games. Sticking with a comic book inspired feel to the characters and surroundings, everything feels like it was drawn in a panel of a graphic novel. It has a very similar style to Borderlands where it is definitely from a comic, but not using cell-shaded technology. The sound effects are also not from the old ‘Acme’ sound effects collection but rather very realistic. Add to that an eerie musical score and superb voice acting and you soon realize that this is not your average game.

Finally, the interface has been improved by leaps and bounds. Your cursor moves free from your character and actions are in context to what you are highlighting. Then, you simply choose one of the options on your available list and click. This is very simple and extremely effective.

The game contains a few action sequences where zombies are about to get the better of you. As Lee, your character, gets scared and closer to death, the edges of the screen subtly go red to warn you of the danger. These action set-pieces are very well executed and never feel like other games’ quick time events, even though they are just a version of the same mechanic.

The real draw of the game is what I mentioned earlier on: The story. The game may be set in a world where action is around every corner, but how you get to that corner and who comes with you is the real draw card.

Lee Tanner is in a police car on his way to jail when the zombie attacks occur. He wakes up in a car wreck and simply tries to survive from there on. As he meets people it’s up to him if he wants to share his story, remain quiet, or tell a different story to keep people at ease. These decisions have to be chosen in a short time as the conversation has a deadline on when you can answer, which really puts you on the spot. If people hear you were on your way to jail they might not help you. Lie to them and they find out the truth later, then they could betray you, or even blackmail you!

These choices affect who travels with you and who does not. Often a situation will arise where you have to pick sides in an argument. Choosing the one side means you become friends and more loyal to each other. These decisions also sometimes mean you choose who lives and dies. When two people are attacked at once do you help the little boy stuck on a tractor or a man underneath, both about to be zombie snacks?

Decisions made could also have repercussions that will only be felt at the end of the game in the fifth episode. It is these sorts of decisions that really pulled me into the story and the game. Who will make it to the end of the story with me? Who can I trust? Who trusts me? Who will survive? Who will go mad? All these questions have to be answered and I must know every possible outcome.

Every fan of adventure games cannot overlook this title. It’s a serialized game split into five episodes that last roughly two to three hours each, with subsequent episodes to be released every month. The first one really sets the mood, and ends on a real cliffhanger. In true television style, it even has a “Next time on The Walking Dead” clip that makes me even more excited about the series. Stay tuned for updates on the series, but in the meantime get The Walking Dead now!

The Good: Awesome story and characters; Beautiful comic style; Urgent decisions took a few years off my life

The Bad: I just cannot get enough of it!

The Ugly: Why can I not save everyone?

Rating: 4 stars
Contributor: Oltman

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Who has time to accumulate cash then wait for a game to launch before actually paying for it? In this work-a-day world, we need to prepare for such things; we need lead time. And if you’re of a similar mind, it may please you to know that Sorcery will be the first game to kick off a new pre-purchase feature on PSN.

Right now, you can log onto PSN and pay for Sorcery, triggering a download granted you have auto-download enabled. Once you have the game pre-loaded, you can play as soon as Sorcery launches next week on May 22.

Sorcery is the only game you can pre-purchase through PSN right now. We’ve inquired with Sony about future games.

Sorcery kicks off new pre-purchase functionality on PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 May 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The full PlayStation downloads list for April – as opposed to the sneak peek we got thanks to Pulse earlier this month, where the list is not segregated by platform – has been released and Ubisoft’s I Am Alive was indeed the top download. On the PS3 and PSN list, thatgamecompany’s Journey followed Ubisoft’s long-awaited title. Reverge Labs’ debut Skullgirls managed to snag the third spot.

On the PS Vita side, Escape Plan continued to dominate – no surprise since there’s not much else for the PS Vita right now, though that changes today. Modern Warfare 3‘s Content Collection #1 drop on PSN also did well, topping out the PS3 add-on category. Finally, Final Fantasy VII was the top PSOne Classic, but then again you already knew that because it’s always Final Fantasy VII.

I Am Alive tops April 2012 PSN downloads; Escape Plan still atop PS Vita list originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The full PlayStation downloads list for April – as opposed to the sneak peek we got thanks to Pulse earlier this month, where the list is not segregated by platform – has been released and Ubisoft’s I Am Alive was indeed the top download. On the PS3 and PSN list, thatgamecompany’s Journey followed Ubisoft’s long-awaited title. Reverge Labs’ debut Skullgirls managed to snag the third spot.

On the PS Vita side, Escape Plan continued to dominate – no surprise since there’s not much else for the PS Vita right now, though that changes today. Modern Warfare 3‘s Content Collection #1 drop on PSN also did well, topping out the PS3 add-on category. Finally, Final Fantasy VII was the top PSOne Classic, but then again you already knew that because it’s always Final Fantasy VII.

I Am Alive tops April 2012 PSN downloads; Escape Plan still atop PS Vita list originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 May 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grandma sure did like playing Rainbow Six: Vegas on that old PSP when you’d make your weekly homage for family dinner, didn’t she? “Blap! Blap! Blap!” she’d shout. And things really haven’t been the same since you traded up to a Vita, what with its lack of support for many PSP titles. We understand.

Thankfully, so does Sony. This morning, the US PlayStation blog announced today’s launch of several PSP games on the Vita (including Grandma’s fave), as well as a variety of PSP Minis (full list after the break). As usual, if you already own the games digitally for your PSP, all you’ll have to do is re-download the files to your PSN-tied Vita. If not, well, you’ll have to pony up some virtual cash.

Interestingly, Sony also mentioned “improved playability” for some titles beyond the up-res’d graphics – we’re checking to see what exactly that means. The line has since been removed from Sony’s blog post.

Continue reading Finally, you can play Cho Aniki Zero on your Vita (finally!)

Finally, you can play Cho Aniki Zero on your Vita (finally!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grandma sure did like playing Rainbow Six: Vegas on that old PSP when you’d make your weekly homage for family dinner, didn’t she? “Blap! Blap! Blap!” she’d shout. And things really haven’t been the same since you traded up to a Vita, what with its lack of support for many PSP titles. We understand.

Thankfully, so does Sony. This morning, the US PlayStation blog announced today’s launch of several PSP games on the Vita (including Grandma’s fave), as well as a variety of PSP Minis (full list after the break). As usual, if you already own the games digitally for your PSP, all you’ll have to do is re-download the files to your PSN-tied Vita. If not, well, you’ll have to pony up some virtual cash.

Interestingly, Sony also mentioned “improved playability” for some titles beyond the up-res’d graphics – we’re checking to see what exactly that means. The line has since been removed from Sony’s blog post.

Continue reading Finally, you can play Cho Aniki Zero on your Vita (finally!)

Finally, you can play Cho Aniki Zero on your Vita (finally!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 May 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Traverse the depths of Hell once again in Diablo 3…

Choose your platform to jump to a specific release list:

Continue reading Now Playing: May 14-20, 2012

Now Playing: May 14-20, 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Before the age of armchair gaming, massive multiplayer meet-ups and 3D handheld gaming, ordinary folk would gather in arcades, their pockets heavily burdened with game tokens while queuing in line for their favourite game. There would always be at least one shooting game with those bright coloured plastic guns promising a few fleeting moments to absolutely annihilate hordes of monsters, zombies or general bad guys.

Sega brings back those fond memories, drags all that action into your room of living and trades those plastic guns for the PlayStation Move controller in The House of the Dead 4.

For fans of the franchise, this game is basically a port of the 2005 arcade game, slicked up with some high definition graphics, nifty motion control, a few special edition freebies, co-operative play and online leaderboards, all bundled into a sizeable PlayStation Network downloadable game weighing in at over four gigabytes. With the promise of no more ‘insert coin to continue’ prompts and given the modest pricing, all of this is (in true zombie fashion) a no-brainer.

In the timeline of The House of the Dead games, this fourth instalment serves as an interquel, bridging the first and second stories and is played out by one of two agents, either James Taylor or Kate Green. After an earthquake shakes your headquarters and re-awakens all manner of evil creatures, you will have to escape certain nuclear destruction equipped with an automatic weapon and a handful of grenades.

Expect the same rhetoric in storytelling, some unashamedly basic dialogue and dubbing. It makes no attempts to hide the fact that it cares more about getting straight into the action and shooting wave after wave of mutated monstrosities. Don’t expect any moments of profound character development, or unsurprising twists in the plot, just the promise of more willing candidates for your living room target practice.

Speaking of which, I must admit that the best part about The House of the Dead 4 has got to be the control system. For an on-rails shooter, where you don’t actually have control over your character’s movement directly, the targeting mechanism has to be quick, accurate and rewarding. I was not disappointed with the Move’s pinpoint precision and speedy response to my flurry of trigger pulls. It was a good showcase for how well the Move handles under high stress and the rapid pace of overwhelming targets that House of the Dead 4 serves up.

While it is possible to play with DualShock controller, I’d highly recommend the Move controller and possibly the Sharpshooter accessory if you have one lying around.

The basics of the gameplay involve aiming the Move controller at the screen, which controls the reticule of your weapon. Squeezing the trigger unleashes a burst of bullets so keep an eye on your ammo. To reload your weapon, you simply shake the controller, which can get rather tiresome when you’re reloading every five seconds (it would have been great to be able to shoot off-screen to reload as in classic arcade shooter style).

In addition to your sub-machine gun, you have a limited number of grenades – which you can throw by pressing the ‘Move’ button – for those claustrophobic moments. At the beginning of each stage, you get three lives which are depleted as you take damage. Once your lives run out, you can continue if you have enough remaining continues. You can earn extra lives by shooting hidden objects through the levels and additional continues by achieving perfect scores for truly outstanding marksmanship.

In ‘Free Play’ mode, you can set the difficulty level and amount of lives and continues you will have before you start the relatively short but action-filled game. You will face eight levels of solid shooting each with a challenging boss fight and twenty-eight unique opponents who not only look different but will behave and attack in new ways to keep you on your feet. Local co-operative play is drop-in / drop-out which is perfect if your partner doesn’t have the stamina to make it through an entire playthrough.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the high quality graphics and variety in both environments and creatures. Even with the fast pace of the game, the new high definition models show just how far these shooters have come compared to their lower resolution polygon predecessors. Sega delivered well by cramming in as much detail as possible to make The House of the Dead 4 as gory and explosive as any other in their family.

To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of this genre of games, but I must admit that once I got into the rhythm of regular reloading and honing in my headshot skills, it became hard to put down the weapon and just walk away. While it probably doesn’t have the best story and it may not be the best shooter out there, The House of the Dead 4 will definitely provide some solid brainless hours of fun which can be shared with friends. It proves to be more than just another reason to dust off your motion controllers – it’s a perfect fit for the PlayStation Move.

Rating: 3 stars
Contributor: Warren

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