Gamertell

The theme of a white man fighting zombified people of color in Resident Evil has caused a few people to express concern. 

According to the site Black Looks, a blog for African American women:

“The new Resident Evil video game depicts a white man in what appears to be Africa killing Black people. The Black people are supposed to be zombies and the white man’s job is to destroy them and save humanity…  This is problematic on so many levels, including the depiction of Black people as inhuman savages, the killing of Black people by a white man in military clothing, and the fact that this video game is marketed to children and young adults.”

That the game is advertised to children is suspect but…

MORE »

Starting August 1, 2007, the MSRP of the 360 HD-DVD expansion player will be reduced from $199 to $179.  In addition, Microsoft will be giving away five free movies through September 2007 with every purchase.  The five movies will be selectable from a roster of fifteen HD-DVD titles. 

Finally, the pilot episode of Heroes will be available for download on XBox Live, and starting August 14, 2007, the HD version of the movie 300 will also be available on demand.  Not coincidentally, both Heroes and 300 will soon be released on HD-DVD. The pricing good news was announced at ...

MORE »

Sandlot Games, maker of Cake Mania, has announced the long awaited launch of a sequel, Cake Mania 2.

Cake Mania was Yahoo’s 2006 Casual Game of the Year and, according to TMC, was downloaded more than 40 million times.  That’s the power of the casual gaming market.  Sandlot Games hopes to duplicate their success with the sequel.  With 50 kitchen upgrades, 18 new customer types, 10 cake styles, 8 cake toppers, and 6 frosting flavors, they might have a culinary winner on their hands.

Sandlot’s website states the game is “coming soon” but TMC’s press release states the game will be available on Windows PCs late August 2007.  Sandlot will also be releasing a video short in August titled Cake Mania: Jill’s Next Adventure.

The original Cake Mania game was released on the PC, Mobile Phones, and the Nintendo DS.  There is no word yet on whether the sequel will merit ports on mobile devices.

Read [TMC Net] Site [Sandlot Games]

• Mix it up in Cake Mania on the Wii

Regardless of whether you call it a game or a toy, the Etch A Sketch is a fond part of many people’s childhoods.  Indian game services provider Game Shastra has signed a deal with Freeze Tag, a mobile games developer, to make Etch A Sketch for the PC, Mac, and Web.  You guessed it, a videogame based on the classic toy created by the Ohio Art Company.

Game Shastra is also mulling over versions for Xbox 360 Live Arcade and the Nintendo Wii.  No word yet on a Nintendo DS version but that would be a logical next step.

You can play the web version of the standard toy at Etch A Sketch.com and, I must say, I’m not impressed. You can hold both arrows to draw diagonally but if you let go of just one arrow, movement stops.

Site [GameShastra] Site [Freeze Tag] Play [Etch-A-Sketch]

• Mix it up in Cake Mania on the Wii

  We already know Nintendo’s success has reached the mainstream media. Stories about parents and grandparents playing video games hits newspaper articles, magazine covers and even television shows.  According to Times Online,  there is a fear in Japan that the Wii is dragging loyal customers away from, of all things, the TV.

In Japan, the Wii outsold the PS3 six-to-one this month (July 2007) and the XBox 360 is still a non-contender.  According to programming executives…

MORE »

Do you watch the History Channel?  Do you like airplanes shooting at each other?  You might be interested in Kuma Games and the History Channel’s partnership.

Starting today, July 13 2007, Kuma Games and the History Channel will launch a video game ‘companion’ to the television series Dogfights.  This is the second season of the show, which reenacts aerial combat between historical aircraft throughout the 20th century.  The online game, built around Valve’s Source engine, features combat based on…

MORE »

Do you recall that football series that isn’t made by EA?  Yes, that would be 2K Sports’ All-Pro Football 2K8 for the PS3 and XBox 360.  In December 2004, EA bought an exclusive license to the NFL and the NFLPA, monopolizing the market in a big, nasty way.  Because of that, 2K Sports (and the development studios that formed it, Virtual Concepts and Kush Games) hasn’t made a football game in nearly three years.  But now, it’s coming back and it wants to remind us all that EA isn’t the only football maker in town.

All-Pro Football 2K8 does not have the NFL license, so 2K Sports has gathered football legends…

MORE »

Epic Games and Midway have made a deal to make Unreal Tournament 3 exclusive to the Playstation 3 (and the PC).  The developers plan to use the PS3’s network to “feature robust user generated content including multiplayer maps, custom game modes and much more.”  That will be a first for the PS3.

According to the press release, players will be able to create Unreal Tournament mod content on the PC and download it to the PS3.  It appears you will need the PC version if you want to actually create your own content but Epic Games and Sony hopes the mods will give the PS3 version a “level of creativity, innovation and replayability not previously seen on home consoles,” according to Mark Rein, the co-founder of Epic Games.  However, the console version will support keyboard and mouse controls as well as the Sixaxis controller. 

Will it live up to the hype?  Can it compete with Halo 3? The game is expected to be available November 2007.

Site [Unreal Tournament 3] Read [Canada.com]

• Mix it up in Cake Mania on the Wii

If you like Bleach, you will like Sega’s new announcement.  Bleach: Shattered Blade for the Wii and Bleach: Blade of Fate for the Nintendo DS will be coming to the US in Fall 2007, just in time for season two of the anime to hit Cartoon Network.

Bleach: Shattered Blade is a one-on-one fighting game featuring ...

MORE »

There is a new upgrade for the popular Sims 2 Franchise: Sims 2 H&M Fashion Stuff, featuring branding from the Swedish fashion chain H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB.  This expansion pack provides tools for players to create their very own fashion statement.

Along with the expansion pack is a contest titled Sims 2 H&M Fashion Runway.  Electronic Arts and H&M have announced three design themes, including “Night Out,” “Let’s Go to the Beach” and “Red Carpet.”  Players may submit their designs and their Sims online and ...

MORE »