The Arcade: The Land of Videogames!

[muthagoose]

Scarface: The World Is Yours... for the Wii
Sierra gives us our first look at the Wii version of this movie-inspired action game.

By Justin Calvert, GameSpot

Earlier today during a meeting with Sierra Interactive, we had an opportunity to see the Wii version of Scarface: The World Is Yours in action for the first time. Originally released for the PC, the PlayStation 2, and the Xbox in October, the game casts you in the role of Tony Montana right at the end of Scarface the movie and lets you rewrite history by escaping from his besieged mansion and then rebuilding his empire. Predictably, the Wii game features all of the same content that appeared in other versions last year, but it uses the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers to make the gameplay feel somewhat less conventional.

Moments after the demo got under way, our first and as yet unasked question was answered. We were wondering if Scarface would feature the same excessive use of profanity and blood on the Wii as it did on other platforms, and we're pleased to report that the answer is most definitely. The F-bombs were dropping left, right, and center as we watched Montana gun down enemies at the Leopard Storage warehouse, and when he pulled out his chainsaw there were limbs and ketchup fountains aplenty.

Cutting enemies up with the chainsaw is almost certainly the best example of how playing with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers has the potential to make the whole experience more satisfying. When you're wielding the chainsaw, its movement will be tied to that of the Wii Remote, and by slashing in different directions and at different heights you'll be able to target enemies' heads, legs, and individual arms. With practice you'll purportedly be able to remove all of the aforementioned extremities before the torso hits the ground, but the associate producer showing us the game on this occasion never managed to pull it off.

In case you're not familiar with other versions of the game, one of the more interesting gameplay mechanics in Scarface is the balls meter--a gauge that you can fill up by taunting enemies as you kill them and by not relying entirely on the auto-targeting system. In the Wii game you'll taunt enemies by shaking the Nunchuk from left to right, and when you've filled up the gauge and want to trigger the powerful "blind rage," you'll need to do the same thing with the Wii Remote. The rest of the controls appear to be quite conventional. You'll use the analog stick and directional pad for movement, camera control, weapon switching, and the like.

Scarface's visuals on the Wii are certainly comparable to those on the PS2 and the Xbox, and we didn't notice any nasty pop-up or frame-rate issues during our time with it. We weren't allowed to pick up the controls ourselves on this occasion, but the release date is only two months away, so it won't be long before we can. We look forward to bringing you more information as soon as it becomes available.

[The Duke]

With the above post, will Vince Young now be hurt all of next year? I am sure he is destined to be out at least a few games now.

[muthagoose]

PlayStation 4 next year?
More crackpot ideas from Sony or something lost in translation?

A Sony insider has hinted that a new version of PlayStation could be with us as early as next year in a move that's not likely to do poor sales of the PS3 any good.

The comments follow those of Ken Kutaragi, the father of the PlayStation, who said earlier this week he'd been working on improvements to PS3 despite his imminent retirement.

An unnamed Sony source said the "PlayStation 4", possibly available within 18 months, would feature the same chipset as PlayStation 3 but would feature reworked connections, drive bay and more inbuilt software for streaming TV/HD content. The company is also looking at creating some kind of PS3 based home server.

"We have even looked at a Sony home server based on PlaySration technology," the unnamed source told smarthouse.com.au. "This would allow consumers to connect home automation devices to the Sony server while also delivering online gaming and access to an extensive movie and music library."

One suspects the streaming software and server seem to be designed with the aim of cutting Microsoft out of the media centre market. However, to many, the lack of Windows Media Centre support is one of the major faults with the current PlayStation 3 firmware. Wouldn't you rather use the server/PC you already have in your home than having to install a dedicated Sony model?

Meanwhile, the reworked PlayStation 3 sounds a lot like a Slimline PS3 is being planned and something has been lost somewhere in translation. Surely it wouldn't be good for Sony to brand a reworked PlayStation 3 as PlayStation 4?

[mavhimself]

if they had some 'operation wolf' out for that ps3, sales would fucking explode!

[muthagoose]

'Halo 3' beta preaches to the converted
Landmark program lets fans influence development of favorite franchise

There are very few certainties in this universe — death, taxes, and that "Halo 3" will sell a bazillion copies when it launches on September 25.

However, the legions that subscribe to the "Halo" hero Master Chief's cult of personality need not wait to get a taste of the first Xbox 360 installment of the multi-million selling action franchise. Developer Bungie rolled out a three-level multiplayer demo of "Halo 3" last week for a test that is equal parts fan service and free focus group testing. Every movement and every shot fired will be recorded for scrutiny as the company enters the final stretch of development. Expectations are sky-high, but it would take a major snafu to disappoint the millions of "Halo" devotees.

Judging from the initial response to the demo — called a beta test — on Bungie's Web site, the sneak peek is a resounding success. Grousing is far outweighed by praise, although at this point, Bungie is truly preaching to the converted. Beta invites weren't randomly assigned, after all. To qualify for the "Halo 3" beta, hopefuls entered an email contest, scoped a viral campaign, or purchased a specially marked copy of "Crackdown," a comically over-the-top action game.
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Download troubles
"Crackdown" was a minor critical hit, but the game's impressive sales figures (approximately 900,000) were no doubt boosted by the inclusion of the "Halo 3" beta. Gamers that tried to enter the beta via "Crackdown," though, were treated to a nasty surprise last Wednesday when they were unable to download the demo while other beta players enjoyed rousing sessions of digital gunplay.

Bungie's message boards were an inferno of impassioned freak-outs, but the crisis was averted that evening when the "Crackdown" bug was fixed and downloads began. To read the message boards now, all is forgiven. Master Chief is truly the Dr. Phil of rampaging gamers.

Bungie must inch across a precarious tightrope for "Halo 3." The shooter's mechanics are so beloved — over five million gamers have played around 700 million online games of "Halo 2" — that Bungie risks upsetting the fanbase by making too many changes. However, there is an equal danger in playing it too safe and not delivering a new enough experience to justify buying an Xbox 360 for "Halo 3."

'Halo 2.5?'
Some fans are already using the derisive term "Halo 2.5" for the beta, saying that it seems too similar to the second game in both the visual and game play departments. But is such dismissal unfair when the previously developed formula is a success responsible for selling over nine million copies of "Halo 2" worldwide?

The "Halo 3" beta gives gamers the first crack at some new (or upgraded) weapons and gear that could help avoid that "Halo 2.5" moniker. The additions are a mixed bag, but that's what this beta is for — to try new ideas out and see how the community responds.

Hotly debated new weapons
The Spartan Laser is perhaps the most hotly discussed new gun, a powerhouse cannon that kills with a single shot. The laser's lethality comes at the expense of time — you must charge the weapon for about four seconds before unleashing death, and in a "Halo" match, four seconds is almost an eternity.

The laser is just too powerful and its aiming is too loose. You can take down a player just by shooting a hand or foot. However, the laser is expertly suited to destroying an enemy rampaging across the Snowbound map on a Ghost (an alien hovercraft).

The Bubble Shield, an item that envelops you in a transparent sphere, is intriguing. When used properly, it's a real gas — such as deploying it just in time to bounce a grenade right back at the thrower. The humorously named Man Cannon is a map feature that launches players high into the air. It's a fun way to cross the Valhalla map (the best of the three maps offered in the beta), but it also leaves you wide open to any player gifted with the sniper rifle, another weapon that is just a little too powerful.

- -

Muthagoose says: Definitely looking forward to playing this game. Hopefully it will be as groundbreaking as the previous releases.

[The Duke]

Anyone out there played "Lost Planet: Extreme Condition" for the 360?

[muthagoose]

SLASH Set To Shred in GUITAR HERO III

According to RollingStone.com, former GUNS N' ROSES and current VELVET REVOLVER guitarist Slash will provide an original track for the upcoming Activision title Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, as well as make an appearance in-game as a boss battle character. The legendary guitarist will not, however, be easy to get to: In order to "unlock" Slash (who donned a motion-capture suit so game makers could track his every pluck), players will have to face him in a one-on-one shredding duel after completing all the songs in the game.

No word on whether players are getting "Appetite"-era Slash, the scruffy leader of SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, Michael Jackson's pal Slash or the Paulina Rubio-collaborating current member of VELVET REVOLVER. GUNS N' ROSES rock anthem "Welcome to the Jungle" will also feature in the game's soundtrack alongside master recording from the likes of THE ROLLING STONES, BEASTIE BOYS, MUSE and PEARL JAM.

[muthagoose]

CBS Sports to air The World Series of Video Games

The special is due to air on Sunday, July 29th at 12pm ET/9AM PT on CBS. It will feature some of the best players in the world competing at Guitar Hero II, EA Fight Night Round 3 and World of Warcraft. However, Quake 4 will not be shown on any of the CBS episodes.

There are also three more episodes planned for later in the year. Other WSVG stops that will be aired on CBS include Dallas, Los Angeles, and the 2007 Grand Finals, which will be held at Dreamhack Winter in Jönköping, Sweden.

The WSVG article advises viewers to "catch the Guitar Hero segment especially. The WSVG redefined the game to include a performance and showmanship aspects and put the performers on a real stage in front of a crowd. Making the experience all the more like a real rock concert."

In addition, The EA Fight Night matches were held inside a real boxing ring, as the players competed for a slice of the prize money, as well as the right to be known as one of the best Fight Night players in the world.

"Finally, catch the best World of Warcraft players as they engage in combat, in an action-filled competition requiring skill and strategy."

[The Duke]

Excellent! I will definitely be checking this out!!!

[Chick-O-Stick]

[glow=red,2,300]BRET MICHAELS ROCKS NEW GUITAR HERO[/glow]

Hardcore guitarist Slash from Guns N' Roses was recently unveiled as appearing as a boss in the upcoming Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. Now, Poison's frontman Bret Michaels has also been confirmed as having a part in the game.

The rocker has been motion-captured with full body, facial, and clothing scans. Two of Michaels' songs will feature on the Guitar Hero III track list, a remastering of the Poison track "Talk Dirty To Me," and a master track from the Bret Michaels Band called "Go That Far."

Michaels is the lead vocalist for the glam metal band Poison, whose hits include "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and "Nothin' But a Good Time." He is also the star of reality TV show Rock of Love with Bret Michaels on VH1, in which the rock star has to select a lady friend from a group of 25 competitors.

Also...

[glow=red,2,300]Activision Announces 11 New Songs for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock For the Wii![/glow]

Activision, Inc. announced today 11 new songs for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, the next installment in the #1 best-selling music and rhythm based game franchise, including master tracks from rockers AFI, Iron Maiden, Queens of the Stone Age, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Slayer and the Strokes.

The 11 additional tracks include:

· Miss Murder (by AFI)
· Through Fire and Flames (by Dragonforce)
· Number of the Beast (by Iron Maiden)
· 3's and 7's (by Queens of the Stone Age)
· Suck My Kiss (by Red Hot Chili Peppers)
· Raining Blood (by Slayer)
· Reptillia (by The Strokes)
· Paranoid (as made famous by Black Sabbath)
· Cities on Flame (as made famous by Blue Oyster Cult)
· Mississippi Queen (as made famous by Mountain)
· La Grange (as made famous by ZZ Top)

"Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock features the most comprehensive song list ever assembled for a game," said Tim Riley, Activision's worldwide executive of music. "Artists and music execs from the major and independent record labels and publishers respect the brand and have given us unrivaled access to their music vaults allowing us to give gamers what they want - to grab their Gibson guitars and shred to their favorite music."

In fact, real rock stars like Jade Puget, guitarist for AFI, a band featured in the game is anticipating the upcoming release of the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and wants fans to know that "if you're going to start playing Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, make sure you have, say, the next 2 years free, because that's all you're going to want to do."

In addition to the newly announced tracks, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock's previously announced tracks include:

· Slash's Original Boss Battle Recording
· Welcome to The Jungle (by Guns N' Roses)
· Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones)
· Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins)
· Sabotage (by Beastie Boys)
· The Metal (by Tenacious D)
· My Name is Jonas (by Weezer)
· Knights of Cydonia (by Muse)
· Even Flow (by Pearl Jam)
· Lay Down (by Priestess)
· Cult of Personality (by Living Colour)
· Rock and Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss)
· School's Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper)
· Rock You Like a Hurricane (as made famous by Scorpions)
· Slow Ride (as made famous by Foghat)
· Barracuda (as made famous by Heart)

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock will include explosive new content and features including a multiplayer action-inspired battle mode, grueling boss battles, a host of exclusive unlockable content and visually stunning rock venues. Expanded online multiplayer game modes will also allow axe-shredders worldwide to compete head-to-head for true legendary rock status. While continuing to retain all the key features from their prior legendary performances, fresh downloadable content will be offered on multiple platforms, and players can now shred to a killer set list from many of the most popular rock songs ever recorded.

For the first time ever, Guitar Hero fans will also be able to thrash and burn with new wireless guitar controllers available for each platform, including exclusive Gibson Guitar's Les Paul model for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii home video game system from Nintendo, and PLAYSTATION3 computer entertainment system. PlayStation2 gamers will also get to shred on a new exclusive shape, Gibson's Kramer guitar, popularized by hard rockers and known for its body design, pickups, electronics and construction for furious finger fretting.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, published by RedOctane and developed by Neversoft, is not yet rated by the ESRB and will be available this October. For more information about the Guitar Hero franchise, please visit the dedicated community site: www.guitarhero.com.

Chickostick says: I challenge any of you clowns to a rousing match when this arrives for the Wii. I will kick yo ass!

[Chick-O-Stick]

Wii- The Geriatrics Love It

Nintendo is off to an incredible start with the Wii. With continued demand and leading sales even after the holiday season, Nintendo couldn’t be happier with the system’s early success. The Wii’s innovative controller design has opened up video gaming to a previously untapped market—non-gamers.

The marketing minds behind Nintendo looked beyond the traditional gamer mediums and advertised its innovations at targets as far from gaming as you can imagine, such as retirees. Nintendo even went against the current and took the Wii to an AARP convention. “The AARP thing was a little bit tough at first. They were like, ‘We don't really want to talk to you because we're all grandparents and we already buy stuff for our kids,’ and so we said, ‘No we want to talk to you about you,’” said Perrin Kaplan, VP Marketing & Corporate Affairs for Nintendo of America. “It took several attempts for them to finally say, ‘So why do you want to talk to us?’ And it's because we have products for them as well now.”

Nintendo’s efforts seemed to have paid off. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Wii is now the latest rage at the Sedgebrook retirement community in Lincolnshire, where the average age is 77. In particular, the Wii Bowling component of Wii Sports has members of the retirement community hooked on playing the Wii installed inside the Sedgebrooks’s clubhouse lounge.

“I've never been into video games, but this is addictive,” said 72-year-old Flora Dierbach. “They come in after dinner and play. Sometimes, on Saturday afternoons, their grandkids come play with them … A lot of grandparents are being taught by their grandkids. But, now, some grandparents are instead teaching their grandkids.”

Wii Bowling has become so well received that more than 20 residents signed up to participate in a virtual bowling tournament without the need to leave the clubhouse lounge. Sedgebrook's entertainment committee said that they even have a fan for people to dry their hands before they bowl, just like at a real bowling alley.

Although Wii Sports features cartoon-like graphics and characters—imagery normally aimed at children—the retirees are absolutely taken with the realism offered by the Wii Remote.

“This is pretty realistic. You can even put English on the ball,” said Don Hahn, 76, a veteran of numerous real-life bowling competitions. “I used to play Pac-Man a little bit, but with this you're actually moving around and doing something. You're not just sitting there pushing buttons and getting carpal tunnel.”



P.S. I bought the Guitar Hero for the Wii...I'm askin again which one of you suckers wants to try me...

[muthagoose]

Gotta watch them old folks... hell, Stomper blew out his knee last Christmas playing baseball on his. Decrepit bastard.

[muthagoose]

Eidos officially announces Highlander game

First revealed in a financial report nearly a year ago, Eidos has officially announced that a Highlander game will be coming to the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC sometime this year. The game is being developed by Widescreen and it will use the Unreal Engine 3.

The Highlander game is being written by David Abramowitz, a writer from the Highlander TV show, and it will cover the 2000 years of the life of the heretofore unseen Owen MacLeod, an ancestor of Duncan MacLeod. During this life players will travel from the medieval highlands of Scotland, to the days of the Samurai in Japan to modern-day New York.

The game will make use of many of the signature moments from the Highlander series. Players will have to control fire and lightning as well as taking the heads of Immortals to bring about The Quickening to gain their strength and knowledge.

“Highlander itself is a cult classic. Practically everyone has heard of it and we wanted to offer the first ever next-generation videogame of the franchise,” said Darren Barnett, Development Director, Eidos. “Having a central character that is immortal and has roamed the earth for 2000 years opens up so many gameplay opportunities in terms of story, environments, predicaments and enemies – Highlander is a thrilling adventure for both fans of the franchise and fans of explosive, fast-paced third person action games.”

[muthagoose]

'Saw' Video Game Teased at Press Conference

At Brash Entertainment's recent press event, IGN UK received word that a game based on the Saw movie franchise is still in development. This information was delivered to them through a teaser trailer that featured the Jigsaw puppet explaining that we as game journalists were wasting our lives in the industry -- so we'll take his word for it.

Scheduled for a release in October of 2009, the game will weave in and out of the Saw movie plotlines and will be an intricate collaboration between the development studio and the filmmakers. While this is really all the information we have on the title at the moment, we should note that the game will be running on the Unreal III engine and will likely be released on PS3 and 360.

Until more info i released you can watch the official website for updates.

www.whoisjigsaw.com

[muthagoose]

AEROSMITH Rocks This Way...
To 'Guitar Hero: Aerosmith'

Fire up the fret board, crank the amp to 11 and get ready to rock this way with Activision, Inc.'s Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, the first game built around the legendary music of America's greatest rock 'n' roll band: Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer. Slated for release this June, this latest installment from the franchise with the #1 best-selling video game in 2007, puts players in the shoes of Perry (guitar), Whitford (guitar) and Hamilton (bass), as they rock out alongside frontman Tyler and drummer Kramer. Gamers will experience AEROSMITH's Grammy-winning career, from their first gig to becoming rock royalty, in a way that no other entertainment vehicle offers.

To celebrate this historic, ground-breaking collaboration, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock fans will have the opportunity to download and jam to AEROSMITH's "Dream On". The song will be available for free from February 16-18 on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Playstation Store for the Playstation 3 computer entertainment system.

"Having a game built around AEROSMITH has been a huge honor and really a great experience for us," says Joe Perry. "We've put a lot of ideas into the game so that fans can have fun interacting with our music, getting inside our body of work and learning about the band's history."

Steven Tyler says, "Any band that can go from 'Don't Want to Miss A Thing' (AEROSMITH's #1 smash hit) to the ass-kicking 'Sweet Emotion' to the cheekiness of 'Love in an Elevator', to the classic ballad 'Dream On' shows why Activision chose us to headline this game based on the diversity of the AEROSMITH catalog. Not only is songwriting a bitch, but then it goes and has puppies."



Perry adds, "On a larger scale, it's cool for us to be pioneers helping to rebuild the music industry through a format like video games. It's great for rock since the record companies are struggling to make sense of how things are changing. Fans want to get and experience music in new formats — and there are going to be some of them who will play the game, then pick up the guitar for real and start bands. It's what's happening now, and it's only going to build more momentum in the future. It's a massive change for the music business."

"We are extremely excited that AEROSMITH chose to team up with Guitar Hero, bringing one of the world's all-time best-selling artists together with one of the biggest video game brands, to deliver a new and unique interactive way for our customers to connect with artists and their music," said Dusty Welch, head of publishing for Activision/RedOctane. "This partnership will give AEROSMITH, a band that has sold more than 150 million albums worldwide, a powerful and innovative platform to reach their fans and new audiences."

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith brings these quintessential rock legends to the interactive realm to create the ultimate gaming experience. As fans progress through their careers in the game, they can rock out to scores of AEROSMITH's greatest hits, as well as songs from celebrated artists that the band has either performed with or has been inspired by in some way. Venues from historical moments during the band's illustrious career offer the experience of "sweet emotion" and further capture the essence of the band's rise to fame.

Related Links:
www.aerosmith.com

[The Duke]

I am damn excited about Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. I have been hooked on Guitar Hero 3, but still suck at it. Playing hte damn game on hard is nearly impossible for me for some reason.

[muthagoose]

Baby Stampsie already has that thing on reserve at Gamestop.

[The Duke]

No Shit!

[muthagoose]

Also, check out Lego Star Wars: The Complete Trilogy.

I think you will really dig it!

[The Duke]

I most definitely need to check that one out. Can you run around as a Lego version of Palpatine?

[muthagoose]

I haven't gotten that far yet but I will post as I clear the boards. I started with Episode 1 and intend to play all the way through.

[The Duke]

Sounds like an awesome game. As a fan, it would be great to play straight through, following the story, if you will.

[muthagoose]

The puzzle solving in the game is a lot of fun that makes it a real challenge. If you pick up a Wii and want to try it out... just let me know.

[muthagoose]

'Grand Theft Auto IV' Hands-On:
Less Like A Video Game Than Ever Before

There are two ways to play a "Grand Theft Auto" game: following the rules or not following them.

On Wednesday morning at the headquarters of Rockstar Games, we took Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers in hand and spent two hours with "Grand Theft Auto IV," trying both. The result: a better understanding of what "GTA" rendered on cutting-edge video game hardware feels like and how it might impact fans and nonfans of the series in a whole new way.

"Grand Theft Auto IV" is only six weeks away from release, but only recently have the developers at Rockstar let reporters get their hands on the game. During MTV News' session, we explored the depths of the game's missions and the randomness of simulated city life that makes every tour of a Rockstar gaming metropolis a sandstorm of surprises.

We flew helicopters, we returned an in-game text message on our cell phone, we crashed lots of cars, we wondered if the game's version of the Statue of Liberty was supposed to look like Hilary Clinton (not intentional, Rockstar says), and we earned a five-star wanted rating on the series' newly expanded six-star police-alertness meter.

First we followed rules, or at least tried to. A Rockstar rep working the MTV News demo turned the lights out and loaded a two-week-old build of the Xbox 360 version of the game, displaying it on a large flat-panel TV. He used a developer cheat to warp the game's protagonist, immigrant Niko Bellic, to a mission called "Jamaican Heat." This mission is available early in the game and involves Bellic escorting a gun dealing Rastafarian named Little Jacob to a drug deal gone bad.

These "GTA" games are certainly still not for kids. Little Jacob names the drugs he likes. The game's improved aiming controls offer smooth, precise techniques for shooting enemies in any body part. The radio stations still lampoon current events and skewer sacred cows. As ever, "GTA" is a crime story, unapologetically profane, irreverently sarcastic.



Following the rules had us pursuing a few more "GTA IV" missions, one involving a shoot-out in a brownstone in the game's stand-in for Brooklyn, another a shoot-out at a dock, and another that wasn't a shoot-out. This last mission, named "Call and Collect," featured Niko helping a dirty cop by shaking down a blackmailer. We did this — almost — without firing a shot, relying instead on the power of cell phone technology. The blackmailer was hanging out near a fountain in a small park, though the game didn't indicate exactly which person milling about in that area was him. Instead, Niko received a text message on his ever-available cell phone. With a few presses of the controller, we could call the texted number, causing the blackmailer's phone to ring. Once the call commenced, the goal was to walk Niko through a crowd of people, looking and listening for someone talking on their cell phone. We heard him first and eventually stood face to face, with Niko's and the blackmailer's phones to their ears, their voices echoing through the phones and the virtual thin air. The blackmailer almost ran. Niko's gun stopped him. And then Niko ran from the cops. Mission just about complete.

While we followed the rules of these missions, it became clear that Rockstar has tried to make "GTA IV" feel like less of a video game, a change that will likely excite fans and further horrify the series' critics. Shooting a policeman, a criminal or a civilian will cause them to tumble with convincing physics. Shot people look hurt. Cars handle more realistically and more distinctly, depending on the type, making driving feel more true to life. The improved physics and animation make the game feel more real, the player's actions more fraught with consequence. We stole a car, tried to evade police and fishtailed through an innocent crowd. Our car was damaged. The cops swarmed. And so while trying to drive up a hill, our vehicle simply stalled. The police won that one. When we stole a motorcycle in another mission, we were arrested immediately, without a shot being fired.

"GTA IV" has been designed with the intention to strip away a lot of its predecessors' video-gameness. Extra guns and health packs don't float a few inches above the ground, waiting to be walked through. They lie on flat surfaces, waiting to be picked up. A Rockstar rep told MTV News that the developers didn't even want those found items to glow, as they do now, because that's not realistic. But a concession was made so players could more easily identify what they could and should try to grab in this world.



"GTA IV" felt less like a video game because there is no "Mission Complete" graphical flourish as there had been in old games, just a brief instrumental riff to indicate a job's successful finish. Icons in the upper-right corner of the screen still display the player's equipped weapon and money, but they are reduced in size, subdued to blacks, grays and whites, doing as little as possible to distract the player's eyes.

In its missions, the game feels less like a game and more like interactive drama. It's a playable crime story, doing what it feels it should. Get in a car and the GPS system maps you to a destination — and, if you're in the right car or turn the option on in the game's pause menu, it talks you there as well. There's less getting lost, less struggling with the controls, less frustration, at least as judged by a two-hour session.

When the game still feels like a game, however, is when the rules aren't followed. That's the way that so many people play "GTA," when the games become a glorified "Pac-Man," a sandbox for mayhem or interactive Keystone Cops-style slapstick, pick your metaphor. The Rockstar rep had suggested the missions but humored our dalliances, which broke any illusions of this being completely hard-boiled fiction. We spotted an old roller-coaster and sprinted to its crest, then tumbled down its steepest drop. We sprinted on foot uncommonly fast, tiring less quickly than "San Andreas"' protagonist CJ, feeling like a bit of a superman. We took a helicopter for a joyride, in this case, in the PS3 build, traversing the city with haste, thrusting with the R2 button, rudder-turning with L1 and R1. The scenery was viewable from an optional in-cockpit, first-person view, the densely detailed Liberty City rolling by so quickly underneath that it's little wonder that the private jets parked at the game's airport are not usable. They'd be too fast for this game's amount of real estate. Mostly we used the helicopter to land on skyscrapers and in busy intersections, the rotor blades magically hurting no one — not the least of whom Niko, despite what would probably be classified as hard landings. This is not the way a real world would work, and that's a good thing.

Off its rails, the game can be cartoonish. We stood Niko at the foot of Liberty City's Statue of Happiness and fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the statue, sending tourists fleeing and denting the statue not a bit. A tourist had dropped a jug of milk and a loaf of bread. A policeman, sensing cause for alarm, approached and dodged a few shots of the RPG right in his direction. He had a gut but was nimble, and he had a backup fleet of choppers and, across the waterway, armored vans and SWAT teams to back him up, an imbalanced cartoon dynamic of cops vs. robber that saw justice again prevail.

As absurd as some of the moments in our session with the game could be, though, it was clear that "GTA IV" presents a more convincing world than its predecessors did. It presents a place less riddled with imperfect game design and awkward controls, replaced with improved technology and handling. The game lets the content — not the struggle to maneuver through that content — arrest the player's attention. It's a realer "GTA." Is it also a game? Of course. Is it still "just" a game? That depends on your perspective and what your hopes are for how something like this might impact those who play it.

"GTA IV" will be released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on April 29.

[muthagoose]

Nintendo's Sunny Spring Lineup:
We Play 'Mario Kart Wii' And 'Wii Fit'

There was a time when Nintendo produced single-player games for fans to get lost in all by their lonesome. That time is not this spring.

Taking a break from making the deep "Super Mario" and "Zelda" adventures, Nintendo is using the new season in America to release more social, easygoing games. In late April, the company will release a new "Mario Kart," and in May comes the exercise program/ game "Wii Fit." The company let me try both last week in a hotel suite in midtown Manhattan.

Each game comes bundled with a plastic add-on: "Mario Kart" with a steering wheel that the Wii remote plugs into; "Wii Fit" comes with the Wii Balance Board, a device that detects the player's weight and balance. I told a member of the Nintendo PR team that staffed my demo that Wii owners might soon feel burdened by all the excess plastic associated with Wii games. Just this past November, Nintendo was selling players the Wii Zapper for "Link's Cross Bow Training." But Nintendo's bet is that the quality of these games will override any concerns about clutter.

I first tried "Wii Fit," which has already been released in Japan. The program requires users to stand on the shoulder-width Balance Board as they are put through the paces of more than 40 yoga, strength-training and balance games. Turn the board sideways, and it can be used for a snowboarding game. Used the main way, it can function as a goalie's spot in front of a soccer net or as a pair of skis under your feet, sensing your leans forward, back and to the sides, to speed you up, slow you down or let you weave through slalom gates.

The main part of "Wii Fit" is exercise: yoga, marching in place or even hands-on-the-board push-ups. Video games are not just for improving hand/eye coordination anymore, it seems. Melvin Forrest, a member of Nintendo's testing department, had me try some yoga postures while standing on the Balance Board. The program indicated that one position I was trying would "improve posture and digestive health." Forrest had me standing in a "half-moon pose," my arms extended above my head, palms of hands touching. From there I had to arch my body to one side. The goal was to keep my center of gravity, indicated by a red dot on the TV, inside a yellow circle. Try this pose yourself (not while reading this article, of course), and imagine adjusting your weight back from your toes or forward from your heels to keep your weight dead center.

To the disappointment of at least one of the other Nintendo reps at my demo, I skipped a strength challenge. The one they had planned would have had me holding myself aloft in a one-handed push-up-like position, with one hand on the Balance Board while my free arm pointed to the ceiling. That's something for the future.

The idea of "Wii Fit" is that it acts as a daily personal trainer. After testing me, the program reported that I had good balance. Subsequent tests classified me as normal in weight but a little weak. Forrest said the program is for people who don't work out, and, one would assume, are overweight because of that. "Wii Fit" won't know if the excess weight a person is carrying is because of muscle, but bodybuilders aren't really supposed to be using this thing. And if anyone using "Wii Fit" is sensitive about their stats, their personal info can be password-protected.

"Mario Kart Wii" would seem to be made for an altogether different audience than a Wii exercise game targeted at yoga-loving moms. But the fact that "Kart" comes packaged with a steering-wheel-shaped casing for the Wii remote indicates that Nintendo wants this game to reach beyond the hard-core gaming audience as well. We posted video of my exploits with the official Wii Wheel last week. The idea, which seemed to hold up, is that a Wii remote plugged into a device shaped like a steering wheel can make a racing game feel just a bit less daunting to play. It's like driving a car — minus pedals and with a small wheel. Also making this "Mario Kart" a friendlier "Mario Kart" is the option to make the series-staple power-slides occur automatically on turns. Friendlier still is a 12-player WiFi mode that enables two friends to play split-screen on one TV against 10 others worldwide.

For hard-core gamers, Nintendo reps say the hook for the new "Mario Kart" is the online mode and the franchise addition of motorbikes. But the Wheel is the most obvious new touch. It's optional to use. The game supports Wii nunchuck controls, a GameCube controller and the Wii's Classic Controller. But because the Wheel comes with the game, it's clearly the company's recommended method of driving.

Game demonstration events run by Microsoft and Sony still consistently feature much more macho Xbox 360 and PS3 entertainment than the kind of stuff at Nintendo's showing last week. The centerpieces of their lineups are usually first-person shooters or action-combat games. Instead, a visit with new Wii games has me asking questions like: "What's this penguin mode here?" (It was a "Wii Fit" balance game that dresses a Wii owner's Mii avatar as a penguin; requiring the player to tilt the penguin's ice floe so he or she can catch fish.) Only at a Nintendo event am I wondering if the female characters parking cars in the middle of the track in the "Mario Kart Wii" Coconut Mall race course can also be based on Miis of friends and relatives. This is console gaming at its sunniest.

Nintendo isn't shy about this kinder, gentler lineup of games. This is the style of Wii game showcased at last year's E3. It's the style of Wii game set for the spring, games designed more to make you laugh or improve your digestive health than to grit your teeth.