A new promotional video has hit online for Bruce Willis' next Die Hard action sequel "A Good Day To Die Hard", featuring John McClane and his son Jack and what the latter does for a living. Via Coming Soon and Bleeding Cool, here's a promotional video giving a good look at Father and Son doing some bonding time.
This year's Tokyo Game Show has finally gone underway, and it's bringing out all the heavy gun announcements that game lovers are dying for! First up, there's a slew of new games coming from none other than the company that created the Street Fighter and Megaman series - Capcom! They've announced new titles like Asura's Wrath (a God Of War style game), a new Dead Rising game featuring the return of the original game's protagonist, Frank West, and a new Devil May Cry game, simply titled DmC! Developed by Ninja Theory (Heavenly Sword), the new installment features Dante once again, showing him with a younger look complete with black hair. Kotaku has the scoop, and a trailer of a game via their link here, or see it here right below.
DmC announcement trailer TGS 2010
Dante looks way different... I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing. We'll just have to wait for more updates and see.
In other news, Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami is collaborating with No More Heroes creator Goichi Suda and EA, creating a new action game in the form of Shadows of the DAMNED! The premise sounds a lot like DMC, with a guy hunting demons and all, but he rides a motorcycle, and the game will be played in a third person, over the shoulder style, similar to RE4. There's also a trailer up courtesy of Kotaku, or you could see it right below. Check it out if you dare!
Shadows of the DAMNED announcement trailer TGS 2010
More games and plenty of other surprises still await as the TGS rolls forward!
It's September 9, 2009... a memorable date that's a cause for celebration for many. Its unique numbering sequence and configuration have been the subject of many special coverages, one of them coming from Yahoo itself, but the date also holds a lot of significance for gamers, especially those who keep track of monumental releases in gaming history. For owners of the original Sony Playstation, this day marks the official release of Square's (presently Square Enix) Final Fantasy VIII, a game that celebrates a decade of existence today. My friend Billy shares his memories of the game in his official blog. I, however, will be talking about something a little more personal. It's a piece of hardware that has stood the test of time, and remains as a symbol that dreams can come true... especially in videogames.
Exactly ten years ago to this very day, Sega unleashed their sixth generation console, the Dreamcast, to the American gaming public. The graphics and 128 bits of power it boasted were just the tip of the iceberg, as the shiny white piece of hardware had success and potential written all over it. During its time in the console market, the Dreamcast has birthed several memorable titles, many of which remain cult classics to this very day. Many arcade games back in that era also saw nearly flawless translations to the machine, effectively giving the console dominant status over the console market a few years prior to the launch of Sony’s Playstation 2 or Microsoft’s Xbox. Indeed, the Dreamcast has made its mark in history, and it would truly be an understatement to call it a failure, for it has done quite the opposite during its short-but-sweet lifetime. With its huge controllers, Visual Memory Units, and several other unique features, what’s not to love about this console? Rather than dictating its entire history (which can be looked up in the web), I’m going to take this time to reflect on my experience with Sega’s final videogame console, and the joys it bestowed upon me and everyone else in my life all those years ago.
Dreamcast Boot Up Screen. It felt somewhat magical back then...
Truth be told, I wasn’t really planning to buy a Dreamcast at first. I was clinging on to my beliefs that I would remain with the Playstation brand for all time to come. For as long as games continued to be released for the PS1 and a successor came to take its place, I wouldn’t be shifting brands anytime soon. However, the urge to play new and upcoming titles became stronger than I thought. Things took a turn for the worse when almost every Capcom fighting game I loved subsequently saw release for the Dreamcast, and when the publisher announced it was going to bring its next entry to the Resident Evil/ Bio Hazard series to that console, I finally relented and decided to buy the machine to satiate my videogame cravings. Around the summer of 2000, I became the happy owner of the first 128-bit console to ever be released, and it was the start of a prosperous relationship I would have with Sega’s ultimate platform that would last for several years to come.
The first and finest iteration of Marvel vs Capcom 2 for the sixth generation of gaming consoles... 'Nuff said.XD
The first games I bought alongside the Dreamcast were both Capcom games, yet each was from a different genre and held on its own ground to consider them must buy titles back then. The two, namely Marvel vs Capcom 2 and Resident Evil Code: Veronica, were much anticipated titles, and as I stated earlier, these two games were the sole reason why I gave into my “Dreamcast desire”. Suffice to say, both proved to be worth the price of admission, as I embarked on several weeks of epic game time one after the other. MvC2 was a monster upon its initial release in arcades, but when the DC port arrived in stores, it became a legendary beast of a game nobody could take their hands off of. To this very day, many consider the Dreamcast version of Marvel vs Capcom 2 THE definite version to own, and this claim was only contested recently with the rerelease of the game for Xbox Live and Playstation Network… with all characters unlocked and everything represented in full High Definition glory. Still, anyone with a nostalgic eye for things would know that the MvC2 engine was built around the NAOMI hardware, which uses the same hardware components as the Dreamcast.
Japanese Commercial of Resident Evil/ Bio Hazard Code: Veronica. Sweet.XD
The other game that virtually ate up my time with the console was RE Code: Veronica. As a direct sequel to Resident Evil 2, it features Claire Redfield returning as the main character, together with her brother, Chris Redfield – the main protagonist from the first game. Bundled in a two disc GD-ROM package (Giga Disk-Read Only Memory – the disc medium the Dreamcast utilizes), Code Veronica was the first non- Playstation Resident Evil game, and was the first entry in the series to see several changes in gameplay and various graphical improvements. Despite retaining it’s B-movie inspired plot elements, the game was very successful, and I enjoyed every moment playing the game and living the adventure. I must admit, I wasn’t truly impressed with the inclusion of the whiny secondary character Steve Burnside, but I was more than thrilled to see Chris back in action, as well as the return of the diabolical Albert Wesker, who didn’t turn out to be dead after the events of RE1 after all. Anyway, that being said, Code Veronica proved successful enough to get a new “Director’s Cut” release in the form of Code: Veronica X, which was Japan exclusive for Dreamcast owners, but was eventually ported to the Nintendo Gamecube and Playstation 2 when they were released a couple of years later.
My fighting game setup. This was the reason why I adored the Dreamcast so much... It was literary "The Fighting Game Console" to have back then.XD
Down the line, the Dreamcast proved to be a great investment on my part as a fighting game fanatic. I affectionately call it the “Fighting Game Console” because to me, at least, that’s what it’s best known for. Aside from releasing the first two Marvel vs Capcom games, several near perfect translations of classic arcade fighters saw the light of day with the machine, such as Soul Calibur, the Power Stone series, Street Fighter III series, Dead Or Alive 2, Tech Romancer, Project Justice, Guilty Gear XX, The King Of Fighters series, and even Garou: Mark Of The Wolves. Later on, two rival gaming companies would collide and release the Capcom vs SNK series of fighting games, which would prove, yet again, why the Dreamcast is a fighting game maniac’s dream machine come true. Despite its bulky, 2-trigger, 4-button, single analog stick and D-pad controller, nobody complained about the results and enjoyed kicking ass anyway. If anyone had a problem, they could always buy a modified controller or arcade stick to even the odds fairly.
Trailer to Sonic Adventure 2. Fun times with the Blue speedster mascot of Sega back then...
As far as the other games go, adventure games were fairly short in numbers during the Dreamcast’s lifetime. Sonic still led the charge with his Sonic Adventure games, and several other titles like Headhunter tried to keep me preoccupied for a while. In the end, however, none of these games would satiate my appetite for a good long journey…until legendary game developer Yu Suzuki came into the picture and introduced his masterpiece. Working on an action game project dating back to the days of the Sega Saturn, Suzuki’s work was one of epic proportions, and when it finally saw release in the Dreamcast, it changed the adventure game experience forever. That game was none other than Shenmue.
The Dreamcast Magazine Shenmue Trailer... Nostalgia's kicking in again!
Above anything else back then, Shenmue was THE definite reason why a person should own or experience playing a Dreamcast. It was an ambitious and larger-than-life game that borrowed many elements from different genres, seeking to immerse players in an almost real life gaming experience. Set in 1986 Japan, the game chronicles the story of Ryo Hazuki, a teenaged martial artist who returns home to witnesses the brutal death of his father Iwao at the hands of a mysterious Chinese man named Lan Di. Seeking revenge for his father’s murder, Players take control of Ryo as he embarks on a quest that takes him around the streets of his neighborhood Dobuita and all the way to the harbor located in Yokosuka.
Shenmue was most certainly "The Dreamcast Experience" incarnate... and it's amazing I'm playing it again after so many years!
Shenmue, for its time, was a complete experience althogether. Combining several gameplay methods, the player could interact and pursue the narrative through exploration and conversation with various individuals throughout the game. Introduced in the game were QTE or Quick Time Event sequences that required button presses at the precise moment they flashed on the screen. This, combined with several battles the player engaged in as Ryo using his martial arts skills, made up the action sequences of the game. The player could also shop, buy items, or even play in the local arcade as Ryo, making Shenmue a true and worthwhile feat in gaming history.
Trailer for Shenmue II, which never saw a US Dreamcast release, but it did manage a European release with English Subtitles over the Japanese dub. Even better.
As the years went by, Sega started to feel the pressure and faced stiff competition, as the Sony Playstation 2 finally made its long awaited debut in fall 2000. This marked the beginning of the end for the Dreamcast, as it saw less support from third party developers who opted to move operations to the newer consoles. Production went down, and games that were once “exclusive” to the console were no longer such a thing, with titles like Shenmue II seeing a release for Microsoft’s Xbox instead. Fortunately for some, that game still saw release for English audiences, albeit in Europe only with English Subtitles placed over the Japanese Audio. Indeed, the inevitable was going to happen, and while many saw this as the perfect time to jump ship and grab a PS2, I still held on to my Dreamcast, clinging to it like a kid would with his stuffed teddy bear by his side. I just couldn’t let this thing go, even in the face of change and defeat.
In the end, Sega decided to cease and desist production of the Dreamcast on January 31, 2001. About 60 titles still saw a North American release until early 2002, but after that, there was no more official support given to the console. Sega made no attempts in creating a new successor either, as they eventually became a third party developer themselves, releasing their games for the PS2, Xbox, and Nintendo Gamecube. Yes, what was once unthinkable finally happened eventually; Mario and Sonic together on the same platform and the same game.
US Commercial of the Sega Dreamcast. Back then, it was full of characters and potential, alright...
While the Dreamcast may be long gone and buried now, it certainly hasn’t been forgotten… not by a long shot. It was way ahead of its time, and it demonstrated several feats that garnered attention and praise, especially to those who were there to witness its potential. Despite its short yet sweet lifespan, it has crafted a legacy that has endured for as long as anyone can remember, giving players and developers a taste of what the future might bring. Being the first console to incorporate Internet play via a modem attachment, it also laid the grounds for the online battles and skirmishes we enjoy in several games today. It’s true that many like myself will miss the glory days of Sega’s white and grey system, but it has carved itself a permanent place in gaming history no one should ever forget.
Happy 10th Birthday, Sega Dreamcast. Let your story continue to inspire others to dream.^^
Apparently, Milla Jovovich isn't done with Zombies just yet... or the Umbrella Corporation for that matter.
Seems that fans (and critics) are going to see a fourth installment in the Resident Evil film series after all, as the action movie actress teams up once again with director Paul. W.S Anderson to deliver Resident Evil: Extinction by September of next year. According to Kotaku.com, Jovovich is set to begin shooting a new movie next year, only cluing reporters on the film's identity by gesturing the number "four" to them. Obviously, we know what she's talking about, and I sincerely hope the movie lives up to expectations for the fans it drew in with the last three RE Movies.
These films have nothing to do with the videogames to which they were based from, and the only thing linking them to the popular games made by Capcom are the zombies, biological monsters, and certain key characters that were included in for familiarty's sake. Truth be told though, I did enjoy the last movie, RE: Extinction, to a certain extent, as it had a lot more action and generally drifted on to it's own to become a Mad Max type of movie with Zombies in it. At the end of the film, we see LOTS of Alices prepare to begin their assault of Umbrella. I sure hope the new film follows it's continuity properly, lest it be criticized again and remembered for having a superpowered heroine and a farcry from the game series it was based from.
In other news, Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami is collaborating with No More Heroes creator Goichi Suda and EA, creating a new action game in the form of Shadows of the DAMNED! The premise sounds a lot like DMC, with a guy hunting demons and all, but he rides a motorcycle, and the game will be played in a third person, over the shoulder style, similar to RE4. There's also a trailer up courtesy of Kotaku, or you could see it right below. Check it out if you dare!
Shenmue was most certainly "The Dreamcast Experience" incarnate... and it's amazing I'm playing it again after so many years!
Happy 10th Birthday, Sega Dreamcast. Let your story continue to inspire others to dream.^^
