Silent Hill Homecoming: Final Launch Thoughts

So tomorrow, the first western developed entry in my favorite gaming franchise EVER hits retail. Silent Hill is something that is truly special to me no matter how much Brad hates on its less than stellar combat and its strange, obscure puzzles. The game has always had this charm to it that other horror games have lacked. I merely stumbled upon the first Silent Hill in a used game store years back and picked it up because I needed a new game to play. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. From their, the series spawned several sequels that secured the franchise in gaming history as one of the most disturbing yet beautiful games in the industry. The games feature superb art direction, excellent (yet confusing) plots, and beautiful music that come together to make an experience that really doesn't compare to anything else out there. So it's been 4 years since the release of Silent Hill 4 and I have been starving for a new game. Silent Hill Origins was good but it merely calmed my yearning temporarily. Before the game hits shelves, there are a few things I want to address.

The first reviews of this game have started to flood in and they have been all over the board. With most other Silent Hill's, reviewers typically agreed on a general score but this game has scores as low as "6/10" and as promising as an "A". This is probably for varying reasons but here is what I think. First of all, Silent Hill is a game that is hard to grasp. If you don't pick up on the game's charm, you are probably very confused as to what is so great about it. I have read several reviews already that have mentioned many of the same qualities to the game but the funny thing is that some people treat them as faults and some treat them as positives. Many reviewers have mentioned that the games combat has been dramatically improved but the lower scores tend to refer to this as a feature that removes some of the fear from the game and makes it a little too easy. Others refer to it as a much welcomed improvement to the series. They see it was something the game has needed for years. Also, many have mentioned the games story as being a bit more straight forward than any of the previous games even though it shares similar themes. Once again, reviewers seem to be split on this element as well. To make a long story short, I think it comes down to how much you identify with the older entries in the series. Some don't like change because they thing it takes away from what made the earlier games so good. Others welcome it as an improvement and an evolution to the series. Despite this difference in opinion, I seem to think that most people agree that "Double Helix", the new western developer, has captured the spirit of the franchise and delivered an acceptable entry in the franchise.

As for my predictions concerning my own reactions to the game. I expect that I will like the game and respect the developers for trying to take the franchise in a new direction. Of course, I will be playing the game live on the feed and talking about the game on this weeks podcast. The only question that remains is: "How will Brad receive the game?" Expect my full impressions on the podcast this week and my full review sometime next week after I finish the game. Be sure to tune in on Thursday night at 10:00 pm central time to get a look at the game in action.

P.S.- Did I mention that I really can't wait to get my hands on the games soundtrack? Akira Yamaoka... you are a genius.

-Nick

Force Unleashed DLC = Distubing Industry Trend

This is why I am incredibly frustrated with the way this industry is headed. Take "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed", a game that was just released to a number of decent reviews and incredible sales in the first few weeks. I picked up the game. I played through the game from beginning to end. I enjoyed it for what it was, a glorified "hack n slash" title remeniscent of "God of War" but set in the Star Wars universe. The game did a magnificent job of tying the 2 trilogies together and left me satisfied overall by the end of the game. Expect my full review soon.

So here we are 2 weeks later. I am gearing up for my next big fall release and all of a sudden, Lucas Arts hits me over the head from behind with something big and heavy. Yes folks, the game will be extended soon with the addition of DLC that includes the ability to play through the game as Luke Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Kit Fisto as well as an additional plotline to play through. Why the hell can't this content be included in the final retail copy of the game??!! I don't want to download it, I want to have it on my disc so I can play it on any system I pop it into!

This problem also relates to the recent announcement that Fable 2 will not include online co-op at launch but will instead add it through a patch within the first week of the games release! Now Lionhead is saying that the patch might be released on launch day!!!! Dammit Molyneux!!! Just delay the game a week or two and get that damn feature on the disc!!!! I beg of you! But of course, they can't do that because the game has already gone gold and is in the final stages of preparation for launch. Another game to fall victim to this trend is Little Big Planet which will not include online cooperative level editor at launch. This is just getting too frustrating for me to handle. I need to go punch something.

-Nick

Laundry List - October Edition

Holy balls it's almost here. October wins for month of the year, very closely followed by November.


Released in October:

Buy:
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia - 0%
Fallout 3 - 0%
Dead Space - 0%?


Maybe:
Fable 2 - 0%
Far Cry 2 - 0%


Will Play:
Little Big Planet - 0%?
Silent Hill 5 - 0%



Post your list in the comments!

Brad

Sponser 4pp in the Extra Life charity event!

On October 18th, 4player Podcast will be joining countless other sites and teams in an effort to raise money for Texas Children's Hospital. They will receive 100% of the proceeds raised from this event. We usually just play games to entertain you and ourselves, but this time we are playing for the kids.

Starting at 12 am on October 18th all members of 4player Podcast will be playing games. I will play live on the feed, as will other members. We will be posting polls to help decide which games you want to see us play on that day. Just a note, Silent Hill 5 and Dead Space will be in our possession if we see the support we are hoping for. I was possibly passing on Dead Space, but if we get enough sponsors, I will gladly pick up the game for this event.

The games might not be for the kids, we can raise enough money to meet our goal and then some! There are some big names participating in this event, including the entire Gamercast Network and Rooster Teeth, so let's show them just how large and dedicated the 4pp community is!

Check out our fundraiser page for more information on Texas Children's Hospital and how you can donate. You don't have to wait for the event for to sponsor us, just make sure you tune in on the feed that day to make sure we don't fall asleep!

I will be posting more detailed information on our gaming schedule for that date, and other possible festivities for October 18th.

Brad

Warpfield Stabalized!

Lets leave the past and lets move towards the future or should I say, the hopeful near future since blizzard is notorious for not sticking to their original release dates. When Starcraft 2 was first announced, I could not keep my mouth shut which lead to me to store where I reserved it the moment the option became available. Every aspect of this game is beautiful. Blizzard has confirmed that it will use DirectX 10.0 and that the new engine that they are using will be able to allow mass units on the maps, which will allow players to amass your units in one place without lag. Also, blizzard will be integrating Havok physics to give SC2 a little more realism to the space aged militia.

Enough about graphics, let’s get down to my thoughts. I am confident that this game will be one of the best or the best RTS that will be hitting stores this year. I feel it will definitely surpass Command and Conquer and most RTS’s out there. Now I am not saying this because I am a fan boy of the series despite the fact that this happens to be the case. I am saying this because I believe it to be true. The way Starcraft 2 is heading is in completely different direction than previous games. Blizzard could have easily just made the same game, thrown in a story and graphics and it would have sold millions. So why didn’t they? It is because Blizzard is trying to make a game that will last a life time. Why do you think Starcraft has been around so long? Its because Blizzard decided to put the time and effort into it to make a great game which could be played for years to come. Dustin Browder, who is the lead designer of SC2, said it himself in an FAQ that they are looking to make the game have longevity. Its not about making a stellar looking game that you can play for a couple of months and forget about it, on the contrary, they are making a game which you will enjoy for the years to come and that is what I think separates SC from so many others.

Now I must say that after reading about some of the descriptions of some of the new units, I can already tell that game play and strategy will be dramatically changed. An example would have to be the new Immortal unit for the Protoss whose shields can absorb heavy fire from siege tanks while taking full damage against small arms fire from Reapers. These kinds of changes and the addition of some ground units being able to scale cliffs will really get you thinking on how the layout of your base will be. I’m sorry, building supply depots and backing them with bunkers and siege tanks to block the entrance won’t work this time.

As you can see, I am very excited for this game and will post again as the day draws near and more is revealed.

FOR AUIR

-Juan

Banjo is Back

Charming...

Consider my wallet officially raped..

-Nick

LAST DAY TO NOMINATE 4PP

Hey guys, Nick here. Just wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow (Sept. 30) is the final day to nominate 4Player Podcast for the Viewers Choice Podcast award. Please be sure to follow the rules closely in order to prevent disqualification. Also, please be sure to nominate www.4playerpodcast.com as the URL, not our podcast archive URL. It is probably best for everyone to nominate us for the gaming category. Anywho, thank everybody for your continued support, we couldn't do any of this without you!

If you still need to nominate us, please click the link below and follow the instructions:





P.S. - Don't forget that we will be taking part in the Extra Life Charity on the 18th and the program is already accepting donations so if you wish to donate early, just click the link in the menu below our video window. Every cent counts.

Wario: All That Greed & Nothing To Show For It

Wario in his current state is done. He's really got nothing to offer. His games are short, slow paced, and not as engaging as some of the other Nintendo franchises. He's not very well liked and I'm not really sure what to think of him either. Plus his games are included in the list of Nintendo games that really should be called B tier. But Nintendo "doesn't" make B tier games so they all get priced the same.

I've always had high hopes for Wario. He's a bad guy. He's misunderstood. I missed out on all the Gameboy fun people had with him, so I jumped on the band wagon as soon as I could. I was hesitant about WarioWare, MicroGames. But after playing it for 30 seconds, I was a Wario fan. Since then I've bought every Wario game on release. Wario Land on GameCube, WarioWare Touched on DS, WarioWare Twisted on GBA, WarioWare Smooth Moves on Wii, Wario: Master of Disguise on DS, and now Wario Land: Shake It! I do have MegaParty Games, but I didn't buy it on release since it was a rerelease of the GBA game.

So let's start off by taking out all the WarioWare games. I love them, but they've got no story and really not much gameplay to build a real game out of. What's left is Wario. There's not much to look at. Mediocrity at it's best. Before you all start telling him to lose the weight, get in shape, and turn his life around. Let me tell you, that's not the problem. The real problem is that Wario's got an identity crisis. He's doesn't know who he is or who he wants to be. He's lost touch with what made him worthy of the "ario"with an upside down M. I mean for goodness sakes. He's supposed to be the opposite of Mario. So if Mario is all good and saving the Princess, then Wario needs to really be up to something nasty. Forget petty larceny and treasure hunting. Let's get down to kidnapping.

When was the last time Mario had a decent Villain that we feared. The battle between Bowser and Mario has become more one-sided than a Harlem Globetrotters game. Wario's resorted to playing tennis and driving go karts with his nemesis. And all the other bad guys are just temporary place holders while Bowser rests up for his next ass kicking. Nintendo needs figure out if they want to go after the casual or the hardcore market with Wario. If they want to make a short and sweet casual game, then they need to make it at a casual price. If they really want to charge full price and hit the hardcore game players, then we need something that will warrant the 50 dollar purchase. I'm not asking for Grand Theft Wario. But Wario and Nintendo both need to make a big splash. No one wants to see a bad-guy being kinda good or a good-guy being kinda bad. They want the choice to be Good or Evil and then completely explore the possibilities of their decision.

The next Wario game has to put Wario up against Mario. Have it where Mario is chasing after Wario the entire game and it's up to you to help Wario keep the hero off his ass. Have it as somewhat a chase platformer and even leave it in 2-D with the Shake It! art style.

So, Wario, let's relive those 6 Golden Coin days. If there's any Evil left underneath all that flab and joyful roundness, get your ass off the couch, stop feeling sorry for yourself, go kidnap that bitch Peach, and let's start this party.

Waaaahhh!
David

Fall Spotlight: Resistance 2

I am what many might call a PS3 fanboy. Unfortunately however, the PS3 has been slow to pick up any truly outstanding games that really help it to stand out as well as the Xbox or Wii. Metal Gear Solid 4 and Uncharted stand out to me as two incredible PS3 experiences but for some reason, the PS3 has yet to get it's addictive, gamer friendly experience such as Gears of War. The original Resistance for the PS3 was a decent attempt at creating a unique shooter to compete with Gears despite the fact that it suffered from a few flaws that allowed Gears to come out on top. I will be honest, I have not played through Resistance. I tried. I couldn't stick with it because it seemed a bit too linear and a bit less interesting than Gears. Perhaps it was the brighter color palette or the shiny new engine that gave Gears that extra edge but one thing is certain, Resistance didn't make the impression that it was striving for. Because of my less than enthusiastic response to the original Resistance, I have not been too excited about Resistance 2 which is set to release in November. Luckily however, I have started to watch some of the preview footage for the game and color me impressed. Take a look at this:



Insomniac seems to have addressed several complaints I had with the original Resistance and added some crazy new elements that have managed to put this game on my radar. :

1.) The presentation of the story in the original Resistance was way too detached for my tastes. The game was narrated and lacked high quality cutscenes that make the story fun to follow. Luckily, Insomniac seems to be combining cutscenes with half life style presentation. Half Life 2 is a great example of how a story can be told right before your eyes with out pulling the player out of the experience. In addition to changing up the presentation of the story, the games color palette seems to have undergone a dramatic overhaul. The original game was nothing but browns and blacks which seemed to make the game very bland. Luckily, the change in game setting seems to have introduced a bigger variety of scenery with colorful forest levels and vast, vertical cityscapes. This kind of variety is something that could have saved the original game in my eyes.

2.) Insomniac's approach to graphics along with technical lighting and water techniques is very interesting. The idea of what they call "hyper realism" is an interesting concept because it is kind of difficult to see. Instead of striving for photo realism, Insomniac has added a certain "i don't know what" that adds a subtle style to the game.

3.) HUGE BOSSES!! Anyone who saw the footage from E3 saw the Goliath Chimera as it tore through downtown Chicago. This was definitely an interesting scene but it seems that the game will throw more of the gigantic boss fights at players throughout the game. It looks like taking on large boss creatures is a key aspect of the game that helps to separate it from other science fiction shooters. The thought of taking these monstrosities on alone or with friends is very enticing which leads me to my next point...

4.) 8 Player CO-OP is definitely one of the biggest selling points for me because not only do you have the opportunity to play together with 7 other people but this Co-Op mode includes it's own unique story! This is the first game I have ever seen that really tries to encourage cooperative play by giving you additional story elements for playing through with friends. Not only is this a unique multi player experience but it's available on the PS3 which is something that the PS3 really needs.

5.) In addition to an incredible co-op experience, the game also delivers a deep, rich, and incredibly complex multi player mode by allowing up to 60 people to be playing all at once! Now this is one element that has me incredibly excited but also very skeptical. With that many people on one map, it could become very confusing and make game play very frustrating. If they pull it off though, then it looks like PS3 might have the next big multi player phenomenon on their hands.

It's hard to read about this game and not get excited. Now I just have to go back and play through the original before the sequel hits this November. Add another game to my list of big Fall Blockbusters....

-Nick

Music and It's Impact, Thoughts From A Wedding

I'm not a big fan of weddings. Maybe it's cause I'm a guy and all the sentimental stuff wears on me. I mean, I'm not heartless. I just think all that love and affection is something you share privately and don't really put it all on display in front of a crowd of people.

The wedding I attended last night was quite a bit different though. One of my good friends, Cecile, was getting married, and if you're a video game dork like the rest of us, you would have been able to feel that influence during the ceremony. I know we're in Austin, but it wasn't weird like they were in full cosplay or that it was a themed wedding. But I'll tell you, I've never been more moved when she came down the isle and Celes' Theme from Final Fantasy VI was being played on a harp. I felt like I was in scene as powerful as the Opera Scene from Final Fantasy VI. Maybe I was one of her crewmates and she was leaving for bigger and better things, but the rest of the crew was upset and vowed not to show up. But she's a friend so I had no choice but to be there for her. Plus, what if some crazy gambler showed up and kidnapped her during the ceremony. All these emotions and memories flooded into me and all I could do was put of this big goofy smile. She saw me grinning and she knew that I approved of her musical choice. Here's the song if you can't remember it by memory.



This brings up the discussion. What is the role of music in video games? First off, I love music. I've got my Zune with me 90% of the day. It's filled with all sorts of Japanese Music and a few Anime themes, but I don't have any video game music on it right now. I love music from video games but I have a hard time listening to instrumental tracks with no lyrics to go along with. Is this a case of me not liking the music enough or that video game music is more situational and is used as a supplement to what's going on screen?

What do you think?
David

Congratulations Jared and Cecile!

New Podcast Ready *Fixed*

It was busy this week and due to some technical problems, we had to skip editing and use the back up mic. Which also means a quicker turn around time. Thanks Travis for coming down from college to make an appearance.

082 - The Nostalgia Discussion [Download]

Travis has been playing Legend of Dragoon, Brad revisited Silent Hill, and I'm reliving my youth with Mega Man 9. So what's the verdict? Can a game be timeless? Do they have the appeal they once had? Or has the evolution of the genre made them games of the past?

006 - Dinner Time Podcast With Ryan Harvey [Download]

Brad and I visit ArcadeUFO to talk with the man who may have the answers on how to save American Arcades. Going over the difficulties and process he went through to set up ArcadeUFO, we learn of the actual machine that caused the death of arcades in America.

020 - Top 5 GameBreaking Abilities [Download]

The 4 of us go over the Top 5 things that make a game unplayable, in a good way and in the bad way.

Thanks,
David

To be good or evil? Will this game get it right?

It will be interesting to see which big RPG coming out in October will do the "good vs evil" thing better. It's pretty damn common to see this in games these days, but hopefully we will see some nuance in this mechanic this fall.

Fable 2 sounds very interesting as being "good" is all about sacrifice. If Fable 2 pulls this off on an emotional level for the player, I can definitely see this game being a milestone. But then again, this is Lionhead we are talking about.

As far as Fallout 3 is concerned? I'm a little worried now after watching these videos. It appears Bethesda is taking the more traditional route with "good vs evil". My guess is karma points just effect which perks or skills you can use.

Either way, I'm really getting excited.

Brad

I apologize to the gaming community. I'm sorry...

I don't know what came over me. Not only do I not support what Namco does with downloadable content, but I scolded anyone who planned on doing so. The sad thing is, the content was way overpriced too.

I'm so sorry. I just couldn't resist.

So the other day I spent 300 points each to get a costume and accessories pack for Rita and Estelle in Tales of Vesperia. Three outfits and three accessories each. Instead of the Estelle you see above, my Estelle can now wear a maids outfit with glasses. What the fuck have I become???

Honestly though, I don't feel so bad. I have played countless Tales games in the past, and though the quests to get outfits are very fun, they all come extremely late in the game. I checked my save data for Tales of Symphonia the other day and the clock was at 90 hours! I probably got most of the outfits over 60-70 hours into the game. I will still do these quests if they are available for me to do so; provided I even care about the game at that point.

My reasoning is this. I'd rather spend a little bit of money now and have a whole wardrobe for my Tales girls for the entire game than wait another 50 hours to get them. I played many many hours of Tales of the Abyss and never got but one costume. I put the game down eventually and never finished it. Maybe if I had more costumes from the start I would have finished the game.

Nevermind...

...I'm fucking pathetic.


I'm sorry for perpetuating everything that is wrong with Namco and their shitty DLC efforts.

: (

Brad


P.S. The only thing keeping me from buying the same set for Judith and wasting another 300 points....

...was the fact Namco hasn't released hers yet.

This is what I want from Tomb Raider

Isolation -- Scale -- Majesty -- Temerity


-- Goosebumps


Brad

New Podcast Ready For Download

Here's last weeks show up for download.

081 - They're Called Feet Show [Download]

Thanks,
David

2 Weeks Until Japan

I've got about two weeks left until I leave for Tokyo Game Show in Japan. It's been over a year and I can't wait to be back in Japan. I know there are some of you who don't quite understand my love and fascination with Japan, some of you might even find it wrong or disgusting. Well here are a few videos to help explain why I may move to Japan and never come back.

McDonald Breakfast Sandwich Commercial


Base Ball Bear Pocky Commercial


Haruka Ayase Pocari Sweat Commercial


Pizza Hut Sausage Roll Pizza Commercial


Just Some Random Commercial


Thanks,
David

Rumor: Ghostbusters Savior In Sight..

If you listen to us blab on every week about games then you know that I am personally very very excited about Ghostbusters. The game was revealed last year by Game Informer magazine and has since made a pretty big splash in the industry. The game is in currently in development by Terminal Reality for both major next gen consoles while the PS2 and Wii versions of the game are being handled by Red Fly Studios. I know licenced games are typically avoided until reviews verify their credibility but I can't help myself. The ENTIRE CAST (for the most part) has returned to lend their writing and voice talent to the game which will act as a direct sequel to Ghostbusters II.

Unfortunately, Activision Blizzard made the brilliant decision of dropping all of the seemingly creative titles such as Brutal Legend, Chronicles of Riddick, and of course, Ghostbusters in order to focus on their "sure fire hits" such as Crash Bandicoot and Spyro....

GOD DAMN YOU ACTIVISION BLIZZARD... GOD DAMN YOU.

Today marks the first rumor as to who would be picking up the publishing rights for Ghostbusters and it is none other than.......ATARI. Yes folks, this is just a rumor but apparently ATARI is showing some interest in publishing the game. I am not a big fan of ATARI since they brought us such hits as "Enter the Matrix" and "Alone in the Dark"... Let me say this though: IF ATARI PUBLISHES THIS GAME, ALL WILL BE FORGIVEN!

I will keep you posted as more news becomes available.

-Nick

I finally have hope. Fallout 3 to be released on time?

In this amazingly amazing video about some amazing weapons, Todd Howard was saying in confidence that the game was in its last few weeks of development.

My new conspiracy theory? Bethesda is being rushed by Take Two.


Brad

"So good"

James Franco : Pie :: Brad : Trailer Below




Never underestimate the power of region free systems.


Brad

I'm serious. Buy Yakuza 2! ...OR I WILL KILL YOU!

I've been championing this game like crazy lately, and I realize this may be getting annoying. But this site is an outlet for me to reach peoples' ears and I will exploit it as much as I possibly can.

I WANT YAKUZA 3 TO GET AN AMERICAN RELEASE

Now... Yakuza 2 will no doubt sell like crap. But I really feel like every little bit counts. Buy this game, play this game, and talk about this game. Help spread the word!

Ok, watch this. I'm serious.... FUCKING WATCH IT!


Ok.... That was cool. But guess what, Yakuza 2 came out in 2006 in Japan. This is why the graphics are dated. Now take everything you just saw. And imagine it with these graphics:

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

So this game series is a mix of Japanese RPG, sandbox adventure, and brawler. It's sort of like Shenmue with an extra dose of badass. Even if you could care less about the brawler combat or the open world RPG qualities of the game, the Yakuza series has an excellent fucking story! It is just a really good crime drama. So much so they even made a Yakuza movie in Japan.

So...

The game is 30 dollars. It got a very short print run. Even if you don't play the game, buY it as an investment. Shane Bettenhausen of 1up said in the last episode of the 1up Show to buy it now for 30 dollars because this is the kind of game to be 150 dollars on ebay in a year or two. Oh? you like the 1up guys? Watch this, they all love it:

1UP Show: Yakuza 2 Review

Buy Yakuza 2 because you want a great game.

Buy Yakuza 2 because because it is only 30 dollars.

Buy Yakuza 2 because it is maybe the last great PS2 game.

But Yakuza 2 because you want the rest of the series to come to the U.S.

Buy Yakuza 2 because you are a Japanophile.

Buy Yakuza 2 because I said so.

Buy Yakuza 2 because because 1up said so.

Buy Yakuza 2 because because it's a game that will be very rare.

Buy Yakuza 2 because you love Japanese RPGs.

Buy Yakuza 2 because you love brawlers.

Buy Yakuza 2 because you love crime games.

Buy Yakuza 2 because you love Shenmue.

Buy Yakuza 2 because you love great stories in video games.

Buy Yakuza 2 because you love dating sims.

Buy Yakuza 2 because you can work at a host club.

Buy Yakuza 2 because you can manage your own host club.

Buy Yakuza 2 because Haruka will cry if you don't.

Buy Yakuza 2 because Kiryu Kazuma is a hunk of burning love.

Buy Yakuza 2 because the game got a B+ at 1up.

Buy Yakuza 2 because the game got an 8.5 on IGN.

Buy Yakuza 2 because Eurogamer gave it the same score as Metal Gear Solid 4.

Buy Yakuza 2 because you can punch tigers in the face!

Buy Yakuza 2 because if you don't I WILL KILL YOU!!!

How about another trailer:


That is all,

Brad

The next Tekken game. No, not just Tekken 6....

So we don't have Tekken 6 yet. In fact, Namco has hardly said anything about the game in a long while. My guess? Namco is trying to figure out how to squeeze in Transformers, Matrix, or Lord of the Rings cameos. Tekken 6 has been out for nearly a year in Japanese arcades, and the game just recently got updated.

Tekken 6:Bloodline Rebellion is the new arcade update to Tekken 6 with two new characters thus far confirmed. Lars and Alisa are the new fighters, but I'm hoping there will be one or two returning old characters. Kunimitsu and Ogre will be mine again someday (seriously, the return of a maskless Kuni has been a literal dream of mine). I am interested in Alisa's last name though. Boskonovich has to be tied to the infamous (and spineless?) Dr. Boskonovich from Tekken 3. This character has been a part of the Tekken lore for many iterations, but in Tekken 3 you were able to take control of this mad man. He had by FAR the craziest fighting style I've seen in the series, so I really hope she Alisa has some of these same moves.

In regards to the two new additions visually -- my guess is Namco took two randomly generated Create-A-Soul rejects from Soul Calibur 4 and gave them story lines. These are easily some of the most poorly designed characters I have ever seen in the series. I'm having a hard time deciding who is uglier. Horrible clothes. Horrible hair. Just horrible.

But honestly, who gives a crap. Their moves looks amazing from what I can tell, and I especially like how over the top Lars' move animations are. As long as they don't play like a Mishima, a Williams sister, or Jack, I'll be interested in trying both of these characters out. But seriously.... why do they look so stupid...

...wait. Hold on. WTF IS SHE AN ANDROID? WHAT THE FUCK IS COMING OUT OF HER BACK? ZO MAH GOD. She totally reminds me of KOS-MOS now. This IS Namco after all. And since they did it for Soul Calibur 4, could they possibly put KOS-MOS items in for this new character? OMFG PLEASE AND THANK YOU - THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

Seriously though, we better get this version for home consoles. The most important thing this update is bringing to Tekken 6 is character and system balancing. There have been many complaints about the original version of this game from the serious Tekken community, and I hope these issues will got ironed out in the update. They made us wait this long for the console edition -- might as well give us the best version available.

Here is some location footage (4min starts quality Lars stuff):


Let me know what you think,

Brad

Ladies, Gentlemen, and Creepy Youtubers...

Earlier today I was walking down the street and I quite randomly... shit my pants. This has never happened to me before, and I swear to you that it is worse than you could ever imagine. I shuffled home in my tepid and odorous confusion and cleaned myself up. I felt embarrassed and ashamed, and I think I may have developed a small rash.

Struggling to scrape of up any pieces of dignity I had left, I browsed the net for answers. Nothing. Then I visited the amazing forums of 4player Podcast.com and found the answer I was looking for. The explanation for why I crapped my pants earlier today. The point of crapping was the point of an announcement -- a confirmation if you will.

Next month, while wandering the desolate wastelands of Fallout 3, I will quite possibly encounter a...

...mutated

...radioactive

...post apocalyptic














...bear.





I will find a mountain...

...and I will find a way.


Brad


PS Thanks to forum member "ktr" for bringing this to my attention.

Air Guitar Contest Final Three (Vote Now)

I hated doing it but I had to pick out the final three Air Guitar Performances. First off, thanks everyone for their submissions. It takes a lot of confidence to put yourselves out there in front of an audience, so for that, I think you guys are already "winners." Skyliner12, I give you props for shooting yours outside at a park. That's pretty courageous. As for the videos, I had some interesting submissions. A couple videos had masks. One video had a storm trooper. One had audio problems. I even had a video that was uploaded to youtube three days before I uploaded my contest announcement video, which I have no clue how that happened.

Well, there are the final three contests in order of submission...

Bonespock - My Sharona


hanniballeon - Cliffs of Dover


killershadows - Number of The Beast


We'll have a poll up soon so you guys can vote for the winner,
David

Bring on Dead Space.

New preview form Gametrailers still has me very excited for Dead Space. October can't come soon enough.



-Nick

Rock Band, Strokes - Reptilia

So we're a little late to the party with Rock Band II having come out on Sunday. It took a lot longer to edit than was previously thought. So Thanks Mike and Sandra for all your hard work and Thanks Brandon for filling in on such short notice.

The video is currently processing so it should be up later today.


Also thanks for putting up with my performance,
David

New Top 5 Podcast

Here's this week's Top Five Podcast

019 - Top 5 Potential Online Games - [download]

Thanks,
David

Don't Forget...

The People's Choice Podcast Awards are now officially accepting nominations! If you would like to nominate us, please click the banner below and make sure to follow the sites rules very closely. We would be honored to at least to be nominated.





As always, your support means the world to us and we couldn't have made it this far without you, the viewers.

-Nick

Indie Games, Something Learned From the Austin GDC

For the people who are out there saying Games Are Not Art, fuck you. Nothing personal. I don't know your address. I'm not going to sneak attack you or wait for you after work. But I think you don't know what you're talking about and therefore not able to have an opinion about it.

I'm not out to say that ALL games are art. We all know that you can't lump everything together and have the one size fits all mentality. There are those crapper games just like there are those crapper movies. But to go out and say that Games cannot be an artform. Those people are full of shit.

Here are three games I recently found out about through being an attendee at Austin GDC. I don't want to say anything about the games. I hope that you will download and try each of them. I'll post my thoughts about them under the comments section so you can read about why I decided to post about these. They are all very simple games.

Gravitation [Jason Rohrer] - [download]

Passage [Jason Rohrer] - [download]

Execution [Jesse Venbrux] - [download]


Thanks,
David

More sweet art from the forums!

(CLICK TO ENLARGE PICTURES)

Keep them coming guys!

Brad

Back To School? I Thought I Was Done

Yesterday was our first day at the Austin GDC. Brad and I attended a few lectures throughout the day. Although much of the information was aimed towards developers and people making games, a lot of the information made sense and we enjoyed ourselves.

Today, I'm sitting down waiting for the "Why Game Composers MUST Become 21st Century Artist or Face Extinction" and I am reminded of being back in school. I walked in with my backpack on. The groups were already settled. The people who knew each other had sat together. There was that slight awkwardness when I slowly found my isolated seat in the corner. Some people look to see if you're someone they recognize. Others keep to themselves working on their laptops or chatting away with colleagues.

I'm reminded of a talk I had with my Dad when I was growing up and playing tennis. I'm a little fish thrown into a big pond with lots of other fish. It's much larger than I've ever experienced and I'm surrounded by bigger fish who have been around a while. I'm just barely able to find my own piece of the pond, let alone avoid being swallowed by something much larger than I.

I thought I'd left this all behind back in high school and then later in college. But I'm reminded and learning that it's a constant process that I and We will always be dealing with. We'll always just be trying to find our place and struggle to find what we want. It's not going to change, all we can change is how meet this process, either by dipping one toe in and slowly submerging ourselves or by jumping into the freezing water-buck naked with no regrets. Neither one is necessarily wrong. But it is a choice you make that will affect your life.


Thanks for listening,
David

Here We Go

So Brad's in the shower and I'm looking up driving directions. We're off to see what goes on in the world of Video Game Development. Highlights for today, the Independent Games Expo Hall.

See ya tonight,
David

Nominate 4PP Today!

The People's Choice Podcast Awards are now officially accepting nominations! If you would like to nominate us, please click the banner below and make sure to follow the sites rules very closely. We would be honored to at least to be nominated.





As always, your support means the world to us and we couldn't have made it this far without you, the viewers.

-Nick

Nick's Fall Laundry List Update 1

So as I type this, the credits of Beyond Good & Evil are still rolling. The game was beautiful and unique thanks to its colorful personality. I have a few minor complaints with the game so expect my full impressions of the game on this weeks podcast. I finished this up just in time for the fall insanity to begin because tomorrow night at midnight marks the launch of the first big title of the fall gaming season....


Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

But what is next for me in regards to my Laundry List?

I will be finishing up the Prince of Persia trilogy by playing through "Prince of Persia: Two Thrones" for the PS2. I'm excited.

Fall Laundry List:
Beyond Good & Evil - 100%

And on a side note... don't mean to get anyone excited... especially this early but....



-Nick

Peoples Choice Podcast Awards

Well guys, we have been doing this podcast for quite awhile now. We have recorded 80 traditional gaming podcasts and approximately 19 Top 5 Podcasts. For the longest time, we didn't even have many listeners but our hard work is finally starting to pay off. The 2008 Peoples Choice Podcast Awards are upon us and we would love to at least be nominated for an award. So this is where you come in. So if you listen to our show or watch our broadcast and enjoy it, we would greatly appreciate anyone who takes the time to nominate us. If you haven't already, subscibe to our podcast and blog via the following links. Whenever a new podcast is uploaded, you will be alerted and the show will automatically be downloaded for your listening pleasure!

Blog:  Subscribe in a reader

Podcast:


That concludes step 1. If you would like to view our Podcast archive directly, please visit: Podcast Archive

Now for the actual nomination process. There are very specific rules for nominating a podcast so please follow them. Here are the rules exactly as they are listed on their web page:
--------------------------
-You can nominate / submit Podcasts One Time Only.
-You can nominate a show for Podcast of the Year or Best Produced, and also submit it to an individual category
-You should not submit the same show in multiple categories multiple submissions are not allowed.
-Duplicate nominations will result in nominations being thrown out!
-Do not abuse the system and submit a single show in multiple categories!

-The nomination form will contain the following:
     Name of Podcast you are nominating
     Podcast URL (www.4playerpodcast.com)
     Your Name
     Your Verifiable E-mail Address
Comments are critical so the reviewing team understand why a show is deserving of being nominated to the category.

-Also keep in mind, that people who submit a nomination may recieve a confirmation email several days after their submission so be sure to keep you eyes peeled for that email.
--------------------------

Nominations are accepted starting 9/15/2008! Thank you to all who nominate us! We appeciate everyone's continued support!

If you have any questions please email any one of us! Emails are in the menu to to the right.

-4Player Podcast

RUMOR: Ico 3 Queen Reveal at TGS 2008!

A teaser website for TGS 2008 refers to a game called "Ico 3: Queen" which more than likely refers to Team Ico's long anticipated follow up to Ico and Shadow of the Colossus! Keep in mind, this is still a rumor and even if this is referring to Team Ico's game, the title is more than likely not final. Does that really matter though? FUCK NO!!! ITS TEAM ICO! Can't wait for TGS.

Check out the Source

You will also notice a date... Oct. 9, 2009. This is more than likely the Japanese Release date which the US version will most likely follow shortly there after.

***SOURCE HAS BEEN CHANGED AND NOW CONFIRMS THAT THIS IS MERELY AN ART MOCK UP AND IS NOT CONFIRMATION OF ACTUAL GAME. SORRY GUYS, GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT A BIT LONGER.***

***CONSIDER THIS RUMOR DENIED***

-Nick

The Final Frontier

Space... Never ending. Whisps of stars flying though my hair.. or something like that.

In Spore, the reward (in my case) is space. Everything else has limits to how far you can progress. You can only get so big in cell stage. Only eat so many species in animal stage. Conquer so many tribes and civilizations in those stages. In space,
oh in space, there are literally thousands, if not millions, of stars systems to explore and live in. There are countless amounts of civilizations to interact with, positively or negatively. Your choice of how you want to live is completely up to you. Of course I conquer and destroy.

Living in space is really divided into three things. War, Trading, and caring for you planets and allies.

War is very simple, but surprisingly hard. This being that you will get destroyed if you think you can take out a civilization with your puny starting ship. Not much strategy is required to take out said species. You can of course bring allies, but they tend to be useless. You can go in a series of bombardments to make them eventually bow to you. You can get an ally to destroy them for you. Maybe you bought the planet buster and just want to blow them up. Whichever way you choose is fine. It is simple, but hard to do until you have access to these options. Before hand, your pee shooter can't do too much.

You of course can make plenty money off of trade. You are still trading spice, but now there are many different types of spices rather than the one generic one you get on your first planet. There are automatic trades and manual trades. Automatic trades are just the basic exchange of the goods rather than getting any money. This only happens between two start systems. Manual is something you follow up the automatic with, or just do normally. It requires you to go to all your spice producing planets and pick up all the spices. After this you should find a species that has a planet that does not produce that spice. Better yet, find a species that does not produce it on any of their planets. One more perk of trade. If you have a trade route with a species for a long enough time, eventually it opens up the option to buy their system. Some food for thought if your a wussy pacifist.

Third. Frequently plants call out for your help. I guess you are the only person in the whole system with a heart. Any ally or planet of your own my call out for some... deed that needs doing. This is optional of course, but its recommended that you do it. When you help out, it keeps relationships from going down the drain, keeps planets producing spices and it "levels" you up.

Oh leveling up. It's what keeps me going. Everytime you do something... out of the ordinary. Whether it be trading, helping planets, building ecosystems, discovering rare star formations... whatever. You gain some points for earning a badge in that area of... "expertise". When you gain badges it eventually adds up to gain you a new title, which in turn lets you have more ships in your fleet. I don't care about fleets though. What I care about are those badges. Normally when you gain a badge, you are allowed to purchase new upgrades for your ship, making the game take new twists and turns on how you can interact with it. Buy a new cargo hold, A bigger laser, Different tools to warp planets to your liking. Tools to warp species to your liking. Tools to let you fly farther and through warp holes. And so on.

This game gives you the ability to keep flying and keep enjoying just... creating. Even when you are way past done making your own species. Space is nothing more than everything you could hope for in this game. Space is all the other stages combined, and then some.

If you love Sims, Rpgs, Rts, MMOs, Creating art... whatever. Play Spore. If nothing more because I said so...

Because I did say so.

Always Watching,

-Travis