REVIEW: Just Cause
Publisher: Eidos | Developer: Avalanche Studios | Format: 360
Reviewer: Craig Gallagher
There have been many contenders to GTAs crown but few have come close,
until now. Just Cause is the GTA Cuban style. You play a CIA agent sent
to South American Island in a bid to overthrow the government.
You are dropped into a political nightmare of warring drug cartels,
corrupt government officials and a motley group of freedom fighters.
Missions usually involve helping a group of rebels to take back a town
or village. This is generally done by blowing stuff up and killing
numerous soldiers. This may get somewhat monotonous after a while but
most gamers will forgive this small flaw when they realise just how big
the game is.
There’s somewhere in the region of 2000 miles of island to
discover and traverse. There are hundreds of secrets to discover and
side missions to complete.
The coolest aspect of Just Cause is also the most inventive gaming
tool we’ve seen in years. You have the ability to grapple onto cars and
then use a parachute to float upwards and over the island. Once you
learn this simple art you may find yourself spending more time free
falling from heights than completing missions.
Just Cause is best experienced on the 360 or PC. The PS2 and Xbox
versions are identically in gameplay but sorely lacking graphically. On
the 360 there is no comparison, it is without a doubt the most stunning
looking game available.
Just Cause is one of the finest games of the year on any console and
well worth purchasing. While variety may not be its strongest aspect,
the other aspects more than compensate. Viva la Resistance!
REVIEW: Tiger Woods 2007
Developer: EA | Publisher: EA | Format: PS2
Reviewer: Craig Gallagher Like Fifa, here’s another franchise that’s rolled out every year.
Previous editions of Tiger Woods have been the pinnacle of golf gaming
on any console. It may not have been the most fun, (that honour belongs
to Everybody’s Golf), but it was the most consistently brilliant.
The ability to tailor each aspect of your game, from player to swing
is still here. As is the gripping gameplay, yet something is missing.
It takes a few minutes of comfortable play to grasp what that is. There
is nothing new here. Its the same game as last year only with a
graphical update.
This isn’t a problem if you don’t already own any of the titles
but anyone who forked out for a previous years edition will feel hard
done by.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fine game just like last years. Tiger
Woods 07 is perfect for any new gamers but seasoned veterans should
steer clear.
REVIEW: FIFA 2007
Developer: EA | Publisher: EA | Format: PS2
Reviewer: Craig Gallagher The
only thing more inevitable than death is the yearly release of another
Fifa title. Each year EA releases an updated version of the previous
year’s edition. And each year the results are ever more
disappointing.
The main difference this year is that both the graphics and gaming
engine have been given a complete overhaul. For the first time in the
franchises history, the ball actually glides along the pitch, instead
of merely thudding along.
The gameplay is exactly the same as in previous editions. You take a
team through the rigors of week-to-week competitive soccer in a bid to
have those crowned champions. The main difference this year is the
online tables. The tables reflect gamer’s online wins. In essence, this
means that West Brom could end up top of the premiership.
The small changes do make a difference, but in the end, Fifa is still
second best. Pro Evolution Soccer is the better title, which makes it
hard to recommend Fifa 07 for any serious gamers. Though that said,
it’s perfect for anyone who wants some fast furious action.
Youth Council of Ireland wants boycott of “shocking” game, Canis Canem Edit
The National Youth Council of Ireland
wants Irish shops not to stock what Ireland’s newspaper of record
describes as “A new computer game that depicts a schoolboy tormenting a
homeless man and throwing eggs at other children”.
The NYCI wants shops and consumers to boycott ‘Bully’, renamed ‘Canis
Canem Edit’ (Dog Eat Dog) for Europe. The game holds a 16+ advisory
label (pictured right) in the Republic and a 15 certificate in Northern Ireland. Bully
is made by Rockstar, the publisher of the controversy Grand Theft Auto
games.
Gearóid
Developer criticises Ireland’s games courses
Kelly, a leading figure of IDGA Ireland, has criticised game development education in Ireland.
Kelly, co-ordinator the of Ireland branch of the International Game Developers Association,
has written an extensive report on the state of game development
education. Titled “The Problems with Game Development Education in
Ireland”, it focuses on both the Republic and Northern Ireland and is
published at gamedevelopers.ie.
His main point of disapproval is “the apparent re-badging of
traditional media and computer science courses to include the word
‘games’ somewhere in the title, while failing to adapt the content
and instruction offered to deal with real-world issues”.
Also outlined was a lack of industry consultation over course
content, a lack of industry-experienced lecturers, a failure to update
course content in keeping with the industry change, a failure to
communicate with the industry in regards to work placements, too many
short certificate and diploma courses, and a failure to include enough
team-based projects.
Problems aren’t confined to Irish courses; noting the industry accreditation scheme ‘Skillset’
set up in the UK last year, Kelly said that only four of forty games
development courses there were awarded accreditation. The report also
states, “industry commentators in the UK, US and Canada have voiced
similar concerns”.
Kelly, a founder of IGDA Ireland, is an executive producer at Nephin
Games in Galway. He has previously worked at Intel and Instinct
Technology. He is a contributor to IGDA papers, and has judged the
Irish legs of the Dare to be Digital student developer competition.
In the article, he says it is not intended as a “course bashing
rant”, saying, “I am not alone in wishing I was able to recommend
many of the Irish games development courses to aspiring students rather
than encourage them to go to the UK and attend one of the more
established courses”.
Pointing out that games development is “closer to Arts education
than Science education” Kelly says courses should portfolio-based. He
adds that there should be a focus on teamwork, “In the real world,
your students will rarely if ever be doing projects on their own”.
The article points to the IGDA’s ‘Curriculum Framework’ as a
guide, and advises collages to contact the IGDA Ireland, the local
industry, or go to the education forums at gamedevelopers.ie.
Dawson Street / Kotaku.com phenomenon
Florian Eckhardt, gaming blog Kotaku.com’s Associate Editor Europe,
has apparently found it hard to buy Canis Canem Edit (aka Bully) in
Game on Dawson Street in Dublin:
“I
need to see some ID, sir” he demanded. I considered grasping him by the
lapels and swinging my hand back and forth in a devastating, sweeping
arc across the pimply jowls of his blubbery face, shaking him awake
again when he was on the verge of passing out. A Mike Hammer style bitch slap, as it were. But I quickly calmed down.
Last month he got to grips with our value added tax (VAT) system:
I’ll pay your Mickey Mouse Socialist Tax, you fuckin’ rat bastard
commies. But let’s see who’s getting gouged here. European VAT is
16.5%, which is 4.5% less than Irish VAT. So, at most, I should be
paying 4.5% more than the average cheese-sniffing Frenchie or
Bratwurst-flossing German. 16.5% of 250 euros if 42.25. That means that
20 euros is actually almost twice as much as the difference in VAT.
With an unhealthy interest in Game on Dawson Street, he also found it easy to pre-order a Nintendo Wii console, talks about buying a Black DS Lite in Game, takes a photo of a PS3 pre-order sign (in Game), and ‘The Price of a Guinness in Rathmines‘ - no, there’s on Dawson Street there too.
Channel 6 games show advert
Hummers, gangsters, soccer, and Xbox Live Gaming Centre — who’s keeping score?
[Err, we're, err: massively late with some of this one:] Xbox and THQ supported the launch of Saints Row in Ireland by kitting out a Hummer H2.
The car is a crazy in-your-face symbol of ‘bling’ easily associated with some of the gangster culture elements in the game.
The launch campaign also utilized the Xbox Live Gaming Centre, South
William Street, Dublin, and the city’s FM104 radio station.
The Fridge on FM104, hosted by Jenny Greene (pictured above in the
H2), on four nights gave the chance for listeners to attend the launch
party at the Xbox Live centre, and compete in a Saints Row Tournament.
Of course, the commute wasn’t in the nearby Luas, but the
fuel-guzzling H2.
Winner Colin Mooney (pictured below with Greene) walked away with an
Xbox 360 console and a copy of Saints Row. Runners up Denise Bell,
Philip Holland and Ciara Harte, went home with the game and Xbox goody
bags.
Before the tournament, attendees had the chance to try the game out in
the relaxed surrounding of the gaming centre with the seemingly serious
match proceeding in the back of the centre. The ‘VIP area’ with four
plasma TVs and black leather couches.
Launched in May Ubisoft, Konami, Atari and Capcom have also used the Xbox-only multiplayer centre for promotional events.
This Friday, October 27, the centre will host a Pro Evolution Soccer 6
event to coincide with its launch; they are to take advantage of the
game’s league system PESRankings.com.
“With PESRankings.com we will be holding Pro Evolution Soccer Leagues
for every university and 3rd Level Institution in the city. We will
also be setting up leagues for staff members of individual companies
and sectors such as banking, insurance and the civil service” commented
community manager, Jamie McCormick.
Tony Murray, MD, Xbox Live Gaming Centre added “We plan on offering
this great service across Ireland with a number of centres opening
throughout the country in the coming months”.
Irish TV program on games to hit Channel 6
Game On, described as a “brand new Irish gaming show”, is set to be broadcasted on Channel 6 from this Friday.
Channel 6 is currently available on cable networks NTL and Chorus in
urban areas throughout Ireland. The channel already features its own
music and film shows.
The half-hour long, Game On is to include reviews, news, charts and
“lots more”. At least some of its setup research was conducted on
boards.ie’s computer games forum.
Stating that they were looking to create an Irish TV gaming program, in August they posted that they
“are currently at brainstorming stage”. And asked was there
anything the boards.ie games community wanted to see include, and even
“don’t want to see included”.
Recently the same forum poster returned, saying “just to let you
know the gaming programme has been given the go ahead on channel 6. It
will begin broadcast on fri 27th of October and it will air at 7pm!”.
Although at this point it contains few details, the TV program now has
a dedicated webpage at channel6.ie.
[ADVERTISMENT:
For more on the media in Ireland read our sister blog BlurredKeys.com.Latest stories include: 'Duckgate' - Metro Ireland lifting pictures from an Irish blogger; somebody cyber-squatting on IrishMailonSunday.com; the news and details of the Irish edition of the NME; and RTE's Ryan Tubridy dismissing a news website which clocked up 3.5 billion hits in 12 months.]
REVIEW: Field Commander
Developer: Ubisoft | Publisher: Sony Online Ent. | Format: PSP
Reviewer: Craig Gallagher 
Field Commander is one of the most ambitious, entertaining and
enjoyable games on any console. And one which is ideally suited to hand
held play. Gameplay is simple, satisfying and addictive. You move
troops around a futuristic battlefield divided into squares avoiding or
destroying enemy troops.
To progress in the game you must keep track of a number of things,
including firing ranges, fuel gauges, and terrain in order to win
battles. It may sound difficult and somewhat geeky, but don’t fear this
is offset by excellent level design and clear detailed maps which
becomes progressively more satisfying as you advance. There are 30
different missions and a host of multi-player aspects.
In a nut shell, Field Commander is perfect fodder for anyone who enjoys their war fare on the go.