All Articles: GDC 2013
Metanet announces N++
Metanet’s last game, N+, ninjaed it’s way onto the Xbox Live Arcade, DS, and PSP back in 2008. Since then, the developer of the quintessential “ninjas versus lasers” game (that’s a genre, right?) has been relatively quiet. But during last week’s Game Developers Conference, the developer revealed they’re coming back in a big way and they’re bringing N the Ninja with them.
At GDC, Metanet announced N++, the “absolutely final iteration of N.” The new game will include “new levels, new graphics, new sound, [and] new game modes,” but when it’ll be released or what platforms it’ll be available for is still a mystery.
What’s not a mystery is the game’s official site, which Metanet promises to pack with exciting N++ updates soon.
Journey collects six statues at 2013 GDC Awards including Game of the Year
The people behind the 2013 Game Developers Choice Awards like Journey. They really, really like Journey. Of the 11 awards handed out last night, the thatgamecompany-developed title was named the winner of six of them: Best Audio, Best Game Design, Best Visual Arts, Best Downloadable Game, the Innovation Award, and Game of the Year.
“This year we saw some amazing titles developed in the indie and downloadable game space, and the critical acclaim that titles like Journey, FTL: Faster Than Light, The Walking Dead, and The Room received could not have been more deserved,” said Meggan Scavio, General Manager of the Game Developers Conference.
While the GDC Awards committee loved Journey, the first-ever Audience Choice Award went to Arkane Studios’ Dishonored. The people have spoken and they really, really like assassinating bad dudes in a steampunk setting!
A complete list of winners can be found after the break. (more…)
Battlefield 4 revealed with 17 intense minutes of gameplay
DICE is no stranger to splashy reveals and trailers that show the horrors of war up close and personal. Last night’s Battlefield 4 debut at the 2013 Game Developers Conference offered a little bit of both. The game will be available this Fall for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. Polygon‘s Brian Crecente spoke with an Electronic Arts official after the reveal and confirmed that Battlefield 4 will be available for the PS4 as well. The game runs on Frostbite 3, the latest version of DICE’s powerful engine platform. For proof of just how powerful it is, check out the 17-minute gameplay trailer above.
The demo begins as the player – Recker – opens his eyes to discover that he is trapped in a rapidly sinking car with three of his squad mates. Shooting the window is the only way out. Panic and fear are pushed aside as Recker makes a difficult decision – take the shot and recover the intel but risk that not everyone will survive. The emotional demo features a cast of characters unrivaled in interactive entertainment. Players will learn how to work together in both the Campaign and Multiplayer, issuing squad orders and comparing achievements in both experiences. Adventure and Competition will unfold through a series of beautifully crafted locations constructed with some of the best art and sound design in modern shooters.
A pre-order campaign has also launched today and EA has confirmed that all early purchasers will receive access to the Premium expansion pack.
Grimm Bros. plans to bring a darker mentality to PC/tablet RPGs
Grimm Bros. is on a mission. They want to bring the darker notions of Grimm, Chaucer, Tolkien, Stoker, and many others to the world of PC/tablet RPGs. The studio, which plans to showcase their first title at next week’s Game Developers Conference, was started earlier this year by Ash Monif, the former COO of Human Head, and artist Randis Albion.
Speaking to the Cogswell Polytechnical College blog, Monif said, “I have always been a fan of complex subject matter. I grew up reading the classics Grimm, Chaucer, Tolkien – and I feel that today’s games gloss over a lot of the richness that can be found within these great works. Our goal is to build a community of core and mid-core gamers who are seeking out a redefined RPG experience.”
The Cogswell blogger pitched the team’s sensibilities as “Evil Dead meets Monty Python.” You hear that? That’s the sound of a gaggle of geeks just shrieking in joy.
Shrieks of joy (and terror) will also be produced when you view the Albion-created concept art (which may or may not be representative of Grimm’s first project) based on Little Red Riding Hood, Dracula, The Golem, and others after the break. (more…)