Gearbox confirms Borderlands 2
Now, I'm not saying Gearbox was desperate for a win, but they probably weren't feeling so great after taking it on the chin a bit over Duke Nukem Forever. Great timing, then, for a tweet and new website confirming the development of Borderlands 2. Scheduled for April 2012, the "sequel to the extravasplosive breakout hit, Borderlands™" returns to the planet Pandora and "features all new characters, skills, environments, enemies, weapons and equipment, which come together in an ambitiously crafted story." I hope that doesn't mean all the former treasure hunters will get completely scrapped. Sci-fi Captain Ahab up there has got nothing on Brick if he can't go BLAAAAUUUUUURRRRRRGGGHHH! and punch the hell out of everything.
If you're in the respective areas, Borderlands 2 will be featured at both Gamescom 2011 and PAX Prime. Also, since I now have stuck in my head the Cage The Elephant song that will forever and always remind me of Borderlands, I've decided to inflict it on all of you as well. Ain't no rest for the wicked/money don't grow on trees...
The Most Poignant Zombie Cinematic You’ll See All Day
I got a call from a buddy of mine, who said I needed to check out the trailer for Dead Island. I hadn't heard of it yet, but assuming it was a game, I pressed him for details. "Just watch the trailer," he said. Just watch this thing. Then watch it again. Oh, by the way, there's a game involved here as well.
Dead Island is going to be a sandbox-style zombie survival game that supports up to four-player co-op. There aren't many further details, but I'll give developer Techland props for coming up with a trailer that accomplished what it set out to do: I'll definitely have my eye on this thing going forward.
Valve proud of relatively minimal Portal 2 delay
The good news: Valve has announced via press release and subsequent clarification to Shacknews the updated release date for Portal 2, which is April 20th in North America and Australia, and April 22nd in Europe. The bad news: Portal 2 was originally scheduled to hit before the end of 2010, and then delayed until February 2011.
At least the folks at Valve attempt to acknowledge gamers' frustration over delays with a little self-deprecating humor in the press release, pointing out that the original Portal "won over 30 game of the year awards, despite missing its original ship date" and that this delay "not only marks the shortest delay in Valve's proud tradition of delays, it represents the approaching convergence of Valve Time and Real Time." I, for one, am appreciative of the human touch a few jokes can put on a situation like this one, and it makes me far more likely to forgive and forget than a cold, corporate-speak announcement and apology for "any inconvenience." Besides, as I've said before, delays are better than bugs. I'm looking at you, Fable 3. And you, New Vegas.
New Portal 2 co-op cinematic trailer shows same wit, new tricks
Portal packed a boatload of charm and character into a minimalist presentation (was the companion cube a character?), and it's good to see Portal 2 following suit. With only the ubiquitous voice of antagonist puppet-master GLaDOS providing explanation, we learn that she's back to her old rat-in-a-maze routine with two new protagonists who this time are slightly more...expendable.
It's wonderful that Valve seems committed to the subtle details that made the first Portal so awesome. The two heroes demonstrate body language to distinguishes their personalities. GLaDOS would sound even more machine-like if she spoke in a true monotone, but there's just enough hint of inflection to her voice to make the final line of the trailer sound chilling.
While the first Portal was masterful at taking a pretty basic mechanic and coming up with endless permutations of it, the sheer breadth of possibilities that come to mind with two portal guns in the field is staggering. I always had a blast making infinite loops that had nothing to do with solving the puzzles, but here it's used as a mechanic to build falling momentum and then release it with specific timing. Portal 2 is expected to hit in February 2011, so it might be worth putting aside some cash for post-holiday gaming.
Irrational discusses Columbia, BioShock Infinite’s city
Since BioShock hit the scene, the game's instantly recognizable underwater city of Rapture became a major part of any conception about video game settings. While Bioshock 2 stayed in Rapture, Bioshock Infinite will take place in a completely new location. Speaking to NowGamer, director of development for Irrational (formerly 2K Boston) Tim Gerritsen explained the approach for Rapture's successor, the skybound city of Columbia. The most interesting point he made was about the city's floating, unstable towers.
"Everything we’ve built within the levels is about creating new opportunities for the players from the floating buildings," Gerritsen said. "You saw the buildings within the world – and these buildings move. Suddenly, and fundamentally, it creates a brand new gaming experience because if I see a building off in the distance, will it always be there or will it move? That creates all-new opportunities for us as makers and you as players."
One of Rapture's signature features was the creepy dimness of rooms and corridors illuminated only by flickering neon signs. This environmental tone fit the location - there's not much light on the sea floor. Columbia, on the other hand, floats among the clouds and is awash in sunshine. The rest of NowGamer's short interview with Gerritsen offered other interesting glimpses into the world of Columbia, and how even a brightly-lit, open-sky can find opportunities for suspense and fear.
If this seems like a tease, well...it is. BioShock Infinite isn't expected to arrive until 2012.
Cheap Thrills: Ricochet Kills 2
Cheap Thrills is a column by Chris Gampat reviewing affordable (under $20) or free games for the recession.
If you like solving puzzles, killing shadowy people, and physics, then Ricochet Kills 2 may be just the game for you. With loads of different combinations for murdering the men in suits and with different objects to aid or work against you, the game is highly addicting with a simple gameplay mechanic that will leave your brain confused with how to accomplish your goals.
If you're bored with nothing to do during a lunch break or really want to try a new game to get away from all the FPS's out there, give this simple flash game a try. If you're an Android user, let us know how it works on your phone.
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