Though the game has lost its subtitle ‘Deadly descents’ the extreme theme still seems to be going strong. Though a lot of the stunts are little bit unrealistic I must admit that the thought of grinding a board over a power line does excite me, as does the prospect of performing tricks by off of the side of a moving helicopter. From what we have seen and played so far the theme of helicopter runs very strongly though this trailer so I expect we will be seeing a lot more chopper action on the slopes this time.

Something which also caught my eye in the trailer was the night levels. Glowing lights on the fingertips of the boarder illuminate the slopes around you giving these levels a unique rave look. I can imagine these levels would be great played with the lights turned down low. The trailer also shows players being able to rewind the last few seconds of gameplay and try again, allowing them to avoid crashing out. This time reversal is a clever feature, but one which I feel could be controversial amongst some fans.

One of the things I always loved about the SSX games were their soundtracks which always consisted of a unique mix of everything from indie, to rock and hip-hop. Its nice to have a good variety of tunes to throw yourself down a mountain too, and if this trailer is anything to go by we will not be disappointed.

So on to our own journey down the virtual mountain. The first thing we noticed upon sitting down to the new SSX was the impressive attention to detail that had been payed to the new slopes. It is easy when presented with vibrant and impressive trailer to doubt that the final game will live up to the promises, but I can assure you that with the graphics of new SSX you will not be disappointed. I was also pleased to find that though the slopes and tricks had been updated to provide new challenges the gameplay did not feel at all alien. The controls felt sharper and yet familiar making this game a good addition to the SSX family.

The level we played followed a simple time trial format, with tricks and boosts helping you to set the fastest time to the bottom of the run. In true SSX style the more awesome the trick the more boost you earn and with boosts creating impact ripples through the snow the better your tricks the faster your time and the more epic you feel. As our video coverage shows ghost players allow you to race your friends or yourself, charting your progress to help you beat your high score. This was only a taster of the full game, and we will be interested to see how the other mode will play on full release.

Though only one level appeared to be playable at the expo we also accidentally got a glimpse at the games menu system, Oops. Here we were presented with a 3d globe which we could rotate in order to browse and select from the most extreme slopes on planet. This was a nice touch as it added a sense of context to the game and gave a great visual representation of your progress.

Though overall my first impression of SSX was very good the first showing of the game was not without its glitches. At one point my character started spasming uncontrollably, which despite adding a considerable amount of points to my score did not really add much to the gameplay. Still, this was a very early version of the game so lets hope they work out the kinks before the release this March.

Until next time,

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SSX
02/03/2012
EA Sports
www.ea.com/ssx

If this is all too emotional for you then you will be pleased to know that this trailer also shows us more of the new sky hook system in operation, with mid air combat in full swing. We also see a little more of the co-operative fighting style between Booker (you) and Elizabeth, and get a much closer look at some of the more mysterious inhabitants of Columbia, Songbird and the Handymen.

Perhaps the most interesting thing to take from this trailer is the fact that it was made entirely from in engine footage, meaning that if this is anything to go by we could be in for quite a treat.

There is still no confirmed release date for Infinite, but personally I am hoping that a date for 2012 will be set soon, really soon please… tomorrow would be great…

Until next time,

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Irrational Games

2K Games

www.bioshockinfinate.com

The game is set in an almost entirely destructible modern city with road signs, traffic, shopping malls, monuments and lots of other things for you to crash into and destroy. The controls are relatively simple and through my lack of experience with driving games meant that it took me a while to get used to the game, once I had completed a couple of laps I found the cars to be quite responsive. As well as steering, accelerating and reversing (I’m betting that you won’t use reverse) you can charge your car by drifting with B and then boost to smash through objects with A. Though the cars are extremely hardy and charge quite easily if you don’t have enough boost you will crash and destroy your car, so time your boosts carefully. Though this game is simple quite in its setup, the detail that has gone into making the destruction as varied and intricate as possible is really quite impressive. Gone are the days when winning a race meant staying on the track, in this game if you want to win the only way is to destroy.

In the world of Ridge Racer your car can smash up nearly anything, however there are certain points which when destroyed reveal handy short cuts through the city. These points are marked with flashing targets, and usually appear on walls and monuments slightly off road of the main course. If you use these points wisely you will not only be rewarded with a good dose of cinematic destruction but also often with a slight advantage in the race. You can also use your boost to send other cars off course and even damage and destroy your competitors. A full boost will smash not only through oncoming traffic and annoying roadworks, but also through your fellow racers. Watch out though, your car may be hardy but it is not indestructible. In this game destruction can be used to create tactical advantage, usually favoring those who save their boost for the optimum moment.

One final thing which caught my eye about this game was the way that the scores are displayed. Instead of simply showing the scores in the top or bottom corner of the screen, in Ridge Racer Unbounded the scores are displayed around the edge of the track as you race. Having the scores embedded in the scenery gives the game a futuristic arcade style look, which in my opinion is pretty cool. This neon text coupled by the textured grimy look of the city gives the game its own unique aesthetic which is quite a move on from the days of Ridge Racer on the PSone.

So there it is, my first look at Ridge Racer Unbounded. Over the course of the Expo the team and I nicknamed the game “Me and my shiny red car smash stuff up!” In other words overall the game is a tad unrealistic but good fun nonetheless. If you are looking for a hardcore, realistic driving game then this one is probably not for you, however if want to drive madly around a destructible city causing mayhem with your mates then this may just be the title you are looking for.  Ridge Racer Unbounded features in my Eurogamer Expo Round up video 2011, so if you want to see the game in action check it out!

Until next time,

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Ridge Rager Unbounded is Due for Release in early 2012 on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 Namco Bandai Bugbear Entertainment Ltd.

Until next time,

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P.S. It was impossible to film everything we wanted to at the Expo this year. What can I say, I try hard but sometimes the answer is just no. If your favorite is not featured then search the home page, after all no video does not always mean no coverage!

So this year at Eurogamer we got our first chance to get hands on with the PS Vita. What were everyones first impressions?

Garvaos: As I wasn’t the biggest fan of the PSP I wasn’t expecting to be blown away by the Vita. After sitting through the developer session and getting some hands on time with the console I was pretty impressed as all the features manage to work well together to make for some great gameplay on the move.

RandomMan: I was surprised with how well the PS Vita turned out. Before the expo I thought not another Sony release, yet another console they have built up with no future, but alas I was so wrong it hurts me. Its now on the top of my buy list.

24: I was also very impressed. When it was announced I was unsure of the PS Vita as I did not think it would be a large enough move on from the PSP, but after seeing it in action my opinion has changed drastically. I definitely wouldn’t say no to one now!

Little Big Planet making good use of the touch screens

The PS Vita offers several new exciting features which set it apart from its predecessor the PSP. Which of these features impressed you the most? 

Garvaos: I was most impressed with the augmented reality. I am a big fan of this feature on the 3DS and the Vita seems to take it to the next level. The 3DS relies on AR cards for augmented reality to work, whereas the Vita on the other hand doesn’t rely on cards. Instead it is sophisticated enough to read and capture its surroundings and then add the characters and game elements into the environment without faffing about with bits of cardboard. The developer session we attended also demonstrated that a lot more games will be using the augmented reality function, which I was pleased to hear as I think it is something that the 3DS has often neglected.

24: Though the augmented reality was outstanding, for me the feature which impressed me the most was the combination of both front and rear touch screens. Before seeing the console in action I did not really understand the use of this feature, however seeing them used in Little Big Planet to control elements of the environment has left me really excited. Having both a rear and front touch screen allowed players to physically push elements of the level (such as blocks) forward and back, allowing them to solve puzzles and create steps to reach new areas of the levels. Using the two touch screens together made the levels truly interactive and gave an extra dimension to the game.

RandomMan: I was very impressed the combination of the front and rear touch screen, but also with the motion gyros as they allow you to do more than any previous hand held console. During my time with the Vita I played a game that allowed me to use all of these augmentations at once. It showed me just how much skill is required to play games using these new features and that you must use more dexterity then you normally would playing with other consoles. With all of these systems working as one in a single game, you can truly see how advanced the Vita is.

Reality Fighters showcases augmented reality on the Vita

We all got the chance to play some of the games due for release on the PS Vita. Which game did you play and what did you like/dislike about it? 

Garvaos: At Eurogamer we didn’t really have the chance to choose the game we wanted to play, instead we drew cards and whatever game was on the card you played. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on Wipeout 2048. Being a Wipeout fan since the PS1 I was more than happy with this. I played a couple of tracks, first of which using the front and rear touch pads to accelerate and fire weapons and gyros to steer. The control set up worked really well, I was especially impressed with the steering because in the past I have found steering with gyros on other consoles not that responsive. The second time round I switched to more traditional controls, using right bumper to accelerate, X for weapons and the left joystick to steer. This felt like the Wipeout I fell in love with back on the PS1. Graphically the game also looked amazing. As 2048 is set at the creation of the sport the setting looked a little like Steam-Punk meets Tron, which made for some fantastic looking tracks. The weapons are your standard Wipeout affair with rockets, machine guns and shields. If your new comer to Wipeout I would describe it as futuristic Mario Kart on speed, a great title for both newcomers and fans alike.

RandomMan: I randomly picked and played Little Deviants, a game that I had heard very little about. I found out that this is four different games in one, with each game requiring you to use different aspects of the PS Vita unique gaming system. For example, one game requires you to use the motion gyros and the front touch screen to look for portals and shoot some Little Deviants, another uses the rear touch screen to move a ball around to collect coins, and so on. I was extremely impressed with the unique way you play this game, but I did find it difficult to play to start with. It took me a while to get used to the controls and the motion gyros, but once I did get used to them the game was a lot of fun. The amount of concentration required for this game made it very immersive, however I was playing this game on a level and stationary surface. If I was playing this on a train, bus or car, I honestly believe this game would be very difficult to play. No matter how well you can maneuver with the front and back touch screen, the motion gyro system would probably just make you jump around too much. I enjoyed playing the game, but I feel a bit like Little Deviants was made just to show off the Vita’s new gaming system unlike some of the other games on show.

24: I was lucky enough to be able to play one of my favorite titles on offer for the Vita, Uncharted Golden Abyss. I was very impressed with the look of the game on the Vita. With the large high quality screen and the impressive capabilities of the Vita the game looked and played like a miniature version of the PS3 game. The game also made use of the PS Vitas new touch and motion capabilities. Though the touch and motion aspects made some elements of the game such as climbing and swinging out to ledges more enjoyable it did make the combat in the game feel a little disjointed. The main problem with the combat was that in order to shoot an enemy you needed to use the traditional shooting buttons (L to aim R to fire) but if you wanted to melee attack you had to use the touch screen.  Switching from tactical shooting to madly tapping the screen not only felt quite unnatural but also had the added bonus of looking quite frankly ridiculous. This would not be one to play on a train. Overall the game was very good, but given the choice I would pick a button melee attack over touch any day.

Wipeout 2048 showcased at Eurogamer this year

Now for the big question. Now that we have had the opportunity to try out both which would you be most likely to buy, the PS Vita or the Nintendo 3DS?

RandomMan: Before getting my hands on the PS Vita I would have chosen the 3DS without question, but after the expo I would say the Vita is taking the front running. With the 3DS you have the amazing 3D graphics and street pass, but the Vita has so much more. It has graphics that rivals the PS3, plus you have an instant messaging service that rivals any other console. I also have a PS3 so with the links to PSN I would be able to do so much more with the Vita then I would with a 3DS. Sony has done something that we previously thought was not possible and had made the PS Vita the pinnacle of gaming at this moment.

Garvaos: As I own a 3DS I am in two minds about this question. There is no doubt that the Vita is far superior to the 3DS with more features and gameplay elements, and the Vita will more than likely have its fair share of triple A titles that will rival the Nintendo hand held. However looking at them side by side I feel that the 3DS is more of a true portable console. The games that the 3DS supports you can simply pick up and play while you are on the move, whereas I see the Vita supporting more games that need at least a good hour of gameplay before you come to a save point. This takes away from the pick up and play element which is so important with a hand held console. The next generation portable console war is just beginning, will the 3DS stealing the Monster Hunter franchise from PlayStation’s grasp be enough? Only time will tell.

24: After my experiences at the expo for me it would have to be the PS Vita. The impressive quality of the screen and the graphics made me feel like the Vita was allowing me PS3 quality gaming on the move and to me the range of titles the console boasts is beyond compare. In addition to this the new front and rear touch screens added an extra dimension to puzzle and platform games such as Little Big Planet making the gameplay on the whole feel truly unique. As for 3D and augmented reality after viewing both consoles in action I now see that the Vita offers much innovative ways in which to use this technology. As with many things in life its not what you’ve got its how you use it, and my does the Vita know how to use it.

Uncharted makes the most of the impressive graphics capabilities

Still want to know more about the PS Vita? Then check out our coverage of the PS Vita Developer session for more info.

Until Next Time,

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Greedy Bankers

Greedy Bankers is a highly addictive game available for the iPhone and iPad.The aim of the game is to match together gems of the same color to form larger gems and then tap them to add them to your total. Each level has a set amount of cash which you must claim, and once you achieve the set goal the timer resets and a harder goal is set. As the levels progress you will face new challenges such as fixed blocks and even a robber in the vault who is determined to steal your gems and leave you bankrupt. In the single player mode you are playing against the clock for a high score, but if you are playing on an iPad you can compete with another player in a seriously addictive multiplayer battle. I had the opportunity to try this multiplayer mode at Eurogamer and I have to say that though this game is simple in concept, for me it was the most addictive multiplayer Indie game offered this year. Oh and the development team, just so you know, really nice guys.

Available now from the iTunes store: £1.49
www.greedy-bankers.com
Alistair Aitcheson

Molecat Twist

Now for a game which wins my award for most frustrating and yet compelling game of the expo, Molecat Twist. In this refreshingly different puzzle game you must guide a procession of marching Molecats through a maze of rotating tiles towards their goal. The Molecats behave similarly to Lemmings, marching blindly forwards leaving their collective fate entirely in your hands. In order to guide your Molecat procession towards their goal you must use a mixture of colored levers and rotating squares to quite literally turn their world upside down, connecting up tunnels and blocking off danger as you twist. This may seem like a simple concept, but factor in keys, switches, traps, monsters, non-rotating tiles and a whole army of Molecats which need saving and you have yourself a pretty decent game. Molecat Twist took some time to get used to, but once we had mastered the basics we were hooked. The demo is free to try online, so what are you waiting for?

Try the free demo now!
www.molecats.com
Stas Gailunas

Snuggle Truck

Also known as Smuggle Truck this brilliantly simple physics based mini game involves keeping a number of small fluffy animals in the back of a truck whilst driving as fast as possible. Negotiate Jumps obstacles and explosives all whilst keeping your urm…precious cargo intact. We played at the expo on a PC using a keyboard but it is also available on the iPhone and is in my opinion better with the addition of touch and tilt controls. The simplicity of this game coupled by the cartoon humor of the graphics makes this my new favorite game for those 5 minute game sessions between tube stations. Snuggle truck has a large range of levels from easy to extreme as well as a refreshingly intuitive level creator. This feature allows you to create and then share your own levels in the level portal where other users can play and rate your creations. Let the virtual fur fly!

Available now from the iTunes store: £1.49
www.snuggletruck.com
Owlchemy Labs

Blocks That matter

In Blocks That Matter you play as a Tetrobot, which is a small cube with a drill and legs which is on a quest to rescue its creators game developers Alexey and Markus. As a Tetrobot you have the ability to drill through other blocks which allows you to pick them up and re-use them later in the level. As you journey through this quaintly retro looking world, you will encounter a wide variety of blocks including blocks made of wood, stone, ice and even explosives all of which can be useful to you on your quest. Different blocks have different properties and the block supply is not unlimited so you must use the blocks you find wisely in order to progress through the levels. There are currently 40+ levels available to play and though our time with the game at the expo was limited, from what we did see was the building blocks of a really good game. If you like idea of a challenging puzzle platform game fusion in which you get to play as what is to all intensive purposes a washing machine on legs, then this one is for you.

Available now on Steam: £3.99
www.swingswingsubmarine.com
Swing Swing Submarine

Really Big Sky

Really Big Sky is a fast twin analogue shooter set in the vast colorful expanse that is space. A bit like a mix between retro classic Space Invaders and modern arcade hit Geometry Wars, in this side scrolling firework display of a game aliens are attacking your planet and you are not giving it up easily. The theme of the game is best explained by the tag line, They’ve given you a really splendid space ship, they’re not expecting it back. In this epic battle for the planet you not only blast objects out of the way but you are also able to drill through objects in your path for added destruction. There are many game modes to choose from including Classic, Boss Rush, Arcade, Pacifism, Countdown, Marathon and if you are feeling particularly brave Nightmare Mode. As well as this impressive selection of single player modes the game also supports up to 4 player co-op multiplayer modes. Play Really Big Sky and you can expect bright lights, shiny spaceships and very fast gameplay. Ready to blast some aliens in the face and get your planet back? I sure am.

Boss Baddie Studios: £4.95
www.bossbaddie.co.uk/bigsky

So thats it for the Eurogamer Indie Arcade round up this year. There were so many great titles on show it would have been impossible to have showcased everything, but I hope this summery of my favorites encourages you to go and take a look at more of the great games being developed by Indie developers this year.

Until Next time

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All Prices correct as of October 2011

Until Next Time

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End Of Nations: Trion Worlds

www.endofnations.com

Note: Apologies for the slightly loud presenting in this vid. No, its not me trying to hog the spotlight (would I do that….) its just that in order to get this vid onto the web as quickly as possible either I had to be very loud or Andre had to be very quiet and I wanted you all to be able to hear clearly. What can I say, I did my best but it was a big table to get a mic across…

Though most of the main features of the system were covered in the above video, looking at the interview again has made my journalistic mind whir with information, questions and possibilities. I thought I would summarize my post Expo musings about the system in the form of a short Pro and Con list. In the interests of keeping this short, I have chosen what I think are the 3 greatest pros to the OnLive system, as well as the 3 biggest problems users may face.

OnLive Pros:

Adaptable: With OnLive you are not restricted to playing games built for only one console. Because the games are streamed from the cloud, the technology can be built around the games meaning you will no longer be limited by the type of console you have. This also means that forgotten games from the past can be brought back to life with new features such as touch technology. Nice.

No More Waiting: Gone are the days of the postal pre-order. With OnLive gamers can access the newest titles the very second they are released and without the traditional trip to the parcel office in the rain.

Online Community: OnLive puts a lot of focus on developing new features to enhance the experience of playing online. With in game messaging, Brag clip videos and the opportunity to view and then jump in to games with friends as they are being played OnLive offers an impressive set of online features.

On Live Cons:

No Cloud, No Game: OnLive is available on some mobile devices (such as some Android tablets) but with no ability to download it is still reliant on wireless signals. This means that if you are out of the range of a wireless network you wont be able to play. Want to play a game to liven up your commute on the London Underground…um sorry…not going to happen right now.

Limited Privacy: OnLive allows players to view others as they play, comment and even rate their fellow gamers performance. Though to some this will be part of the online fun I worry that it could lead to an increase in online bullying, especially amongst children. Some people play games as a form of escapism and for these gamers this may not be a welcome feature.

Gaming Apocalypse: Ok so I couldn’t think of a title for this one but basically as I have said before OnLive is reliant on the cloud and so we have no form of back up should the super computers powering the system have technical difficulties. Now I have been assured by several of the guys at OnLive that this will not happen and that they have fail safe systems in place etc… but not having a material copy of any of my games does make me a little nervous. Put it this way, if I scratch the disk of my new release at least I know I can stick in a PS2 retro classic to keep me going, but if the cloud goes down, well thats a different matter.

So there you have it, OnLive is now available in the UK. I have been greatly impressed by the versatility of the system and the quality of the gameplay offered and if you are not yet convinced I suggest signing up and having a look for yourself. Its free to sign up and right now your first game is only £1 so now is the time to try out this gaming revolution for yourself. But please, if you are brousing online and come across me playing remember: If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all…

Until Next Time,

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Check out OnLive now at: www.onlive.co.uk

As well as showcasing the Vita’s impressive new set of features such as the consoles augmented reality and rear touch screen, we were also treated to previews of several games including Wipeout 2048, Little Big Planet Vita and Reality Fighters. So join us now as we take a closer look at what the Ps Vita has to offer.

Until next time,
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Until next time,

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P.S. ‘Fan’ is not a typo, I did not mean ‘Fans’. Only one person asked me why the next episode was late and I have used this to work out my average number of viewers. I know who you are fan! Thanks for watching