Games I currently can’t stop playing:
Wanako Games made the Xbox Live Arcade title Assault Heroes 2.
Canada’s biggest independent game developer has gobbled up a Chilean game studio that specializes in titles for Microsoft.
Montreal-based Artificial Mind and Movement made the announcement late Thursday that it had acquired Wanako Games, which is the first and largest game studio in South America.
It changes hands from Activision Blizzard. Details of the deal were not released.
“The acquisition of Wanako Games is an opportunity to work with an experienced, motivated team, and to add successful downloadable games to our portfolio, including Assault Heroes 2 and 3D Ultra Mini Golf 2,” said Remi Racine, A2M’s president and CEO.
Racine said the addition of downloadable content has been part of the company’s growth strategy.
“We couldn’t miss this opportunity to provide A2M with a strong foot hold in the downloadable space and access to a great talent pool,” he added.
The company said it will now be able to expand its offering across Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network.
A2M specializes in family games, such as Happy Feet, Ant Bully and Spider Man: Friend or Foe.
“The complementarities of our titles, target markets and technologies, combined with our understanding of the licence-based development, are paving the way to a solid alliance between the studios,” said Tiburcio de la Carcova, head of Wanako Studio. “In addition, we have developed relationships with prestigious universities and art schools in Chile, which will bring new approaches and favor exchange between the two cities.”
Actually not really. But I am having trouble putting the game down so I can pop other games into my Xbox for review. Not that Shaun White Snowboarding isn’t a frolicking good time – it’s fun and has been given a bum rap by some of the other reviewers (Gamespot). It’s just that Fable 2 is addictive; a hero’s gotta woo his future wife, get married, have some kids, find some treasure, slay some bad guys, learn some spells… you get the idea.
You’re in the Movies will make you feel like a star . . . but not the Hollywood kind, more like those who appear in horribly scripted B-movies.
Yet that’s part of the charm in this unique game, which hit stores Tuesday. In fact, that’s how the title is being pitched.
Trivia time: What movie is this quote from?
“You kids today with your loud music, and Dan Fogelberg, Zima, Hula Hoops, and your Pac Man video games.”
1. Tommy Boy
2. Gone in 60 Seconds
3. Man of La Manch
4. BASEketball
Scene It? Box Office Smash is the benchmark for movie trivia video games. This game is just plain fun. And even for those who don’t know that the answer to the above question is number 4, the Xbox 360 title is still a riot.
When Marcie McIndoe found herself on maternity leave during a snowy Ontario winter, she turned to the world of video games for fun and friendship.
“Gaming has provided a major social outlet for me,” she says. “I was on maternity leave all winter. And when there are feet of snow outside, to be able to turn on the Xbox and laugh with friends is such a joy, and a necessary one.” McIndoe, 33, is no longer considered an anomaly in what was once a testosterone-dominated digital world. About half of those who play who play video games are female, according to recent surveys in both Canada and the U.S.
As Call of Duty: World at War was released on Nov. 11, there was one resounding question: Could it live up to its jaw-dropping predecessor?
By Tuesday the early feedback to this fifth instalment of the series has been positive, but measured, compared to the fourth instalment, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
As one Australian reviewer noted, “Call of Duty: World at War doesn’t have big boots to fill. No, it has giant, size-46 novelty boots to fill, the kind you’d find Goofy wearing at Disneyland.”
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Hit-video game Far Cry 2 has reached the million mark.
Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, the first-person shooter game has sold more than one million units worldwide. It’s been on store shelves for three weeks.
“The holiday quarter is off to a solid start with the successful launch of Far Cry 2,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “The game is well on track to achieve our expectations for the year.”
The open-world game is known for its lush landscapes and the ability to create levels. The second instalment takes place in a war-torn African state.
The game is available for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
So I was one of those schlubs standing outside of Future Shop as the clock ticked 12:01 on Nov. 7, one of the first to pick up Gears of War 2.
I played it for about 45 minutes when I got home, then night-capped with a couple levels of Super Mario Galaxy. And I haven’t popped Gears 2 in since. Was it worth getting the game at the launch? Heck, yeah.
I can proudly say I played it at least two hours before anyone in B.C. (because of the time change). And I can has a limited edition Gears of War 2 figurine of a locust with its noggin blowing up from a headshot. It’s kinda disturbing, but still cool. It also has two neat-o cog tags that I may wear as a conversation starter.
Oh yeah, and about the game… it’s epic and heart-pounding. I love it. I’m not going to rush through. I haven’t tried the matchmaking yet, but the addition of the pre-game lobby system is excellent.
What was your Gears experience?
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