Daily Gaming News Wrap: December 2nd

jmaltz@pnosker.com December 2, 2010 0

If there had to be a theme around today's gaming news wrap-up, it would probably be indie games.  Not only do we have news of an indie games uprising, but also there is the announcement of a brand new promotion to keep you warm with Xbox LIVE Arcade titles.  However, it isn't all indie games today, as there was also some news from the PC gaming front and a new take on off-road racing.


Much like the summer time, December is a touch lacking in the video game releases department.  Now that most companies have put out their major releases with enough time to build up buzz for the holiday season, gamers are left scrambling to catch up.  However, if none of the games released to this point caught your eye, Microsoft has a promotion ready to keep your console warm through some of the cold winter months.

Titled Games For The Holidays, it will consist of three releases: World of Keflings, Raskulls, and Ilomilo to be put out on December 22nd, 29th, and January 5th respectively.  Getting any one of these titles will set you back 800 Microsoft points.

Additionally, much like the credit given to gamers who purchased a certain number of games during the Summer of Arcade, there will be bonuses to purchase all the games.  For one, purchasing all three titles will unlock cross-game content including the sharing of some characters between games.  What's more, players who want to get their hands on Raskulls early can do that by purchasing it in the World of Keflings menu.


If you're like a lot of gamers right now, the current state of affairs in the gaming industry might have left you a little bit sad.  Sometimes it seems as if all we get is more space marines, more sequels, and more of the same generally.  Indie game developers agree with you, and they have started an uprising to protest their discontent with big, triple-A publishers putting out recycled games.  No, they aren't showing up at Bobby Kotick's door with pitchforks and torches.  They are going for a more peaceful movement, releasing their games on Xbox LIVE over the next week for everyone to enjoy.  The uprising consists of 12 games:

  • Soulcaster 2
  • Cthulhu Saves the World
  • Radiangames Crossfire 2
  • Chu's Dynasty
  • Alpha Squad
  • Epic Dungeon
  • Break Limit
  • Decimation X3
  • Asteroids Do Concern Me
  • Hypership Out of Control
  • Aphelion: Episode Two: Wings of Omega
  • ZP2KX: Zombies & Pterodactyls
  • Ubergridder
  • Rickenbacker vs. The Aliens

All of these games are between 80 MSP and 400 MSP and are being released over the next week on Xbox LIVE.  Seeing as none of these games were likely on your radar before (they sure as heck weren't on ours until we found out about the uprising), you can find out more by visiting the Indie Games Uprising official website here.


If you've been craving some colonial era strategy in your life, the time has come for that hunger to be satisfied.  Paradox Interactive announced today that closed beta sign-ups are now running for their upcoming game Pride of Nations. If you are selected to participate, you will take the helm of one of eight nations in between 1850 and 1920 and attempt to steer it towards global power through the use of diplomacy, economics and force.

Sign-ups run now through midday on December 13th, and should you be selected you will find out by December 17th.  So, if you're interested in kicking some turn of the century butt, head over to the sign up page here.


If you're not the beta testing type, the finished version of Pride of Nations is due out in 2011.

[Pride of Nations]-$TBA


Its always surprising how two developers can take similar source material and end up with totally different results.  Just days after the gravity defying off-road racer Nail'd was released, the developers at 1C Company have released a trailer for Off Road Drive, a racing game that takes players off the pavement and into incredibly realistic racing environments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb0G-URS4dk

Off Road Drive is promising players an incredibly true-to-life driving experience to gamers by having them race through internationally famous championships ranging from Russia to Thailand.  In order to come in first, players will need to equip their SUV or Truck with a variety of specialized off-road equipment ranging from sand tracks to altimeters.  All of this will need to be balanced against the realistic physics engine that allows cars to sink into the mud around them or have their tires filled with dirt, thereby creating a rut.  Players will start racing through the dirt and mud come Q2 2011.

 

[Off-Road Drive]-$TBA


Thor: God of Thunder  was shown off at this year's New York Comic Con, but it was only in a very small capacity and didn't reveal much at all about the content of the game.  Some of the mystery was cleared up today as SEGA announced the actors who would be voicing both Thor and Loki.

The two main characters in the game's story with both be voiced by, and share the likenesses of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston respectively.  This makes a fair bit of sense, as these two men will also be playing those same characters in the Thor movie, to be released simultaneously with the video game.  It is a bit worrisome though as it pushes the game more towards "official movie game" status, something that is never good.  We'll see how it turns out come next spring when both the game and the movie are released.

 

[Thor: God of Thunder]-$TBA


Last week we brought you Iron Man fighting super villians in on the pinball table and now we have Wolverine doing the same.  Zen Studios has put out a new trailer giving players a look at the enemies the clawed x-man will be facing in Marvel Pinball and some ridiculous multiball action.  Some of the enemies showcased include Sentinals, Beast, and more.  Check out the trailer below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ez9yhsUZVmU

Additionally, Zen has sent out word that their second pinball title will be released as an add-on to Pinball FX2 on the Xbox 360 come December 8th.  PS3 owners will have to wait a little bit longer to get the standalone version on December 14th.

[Marvel Pinball]- 800 Microsoft Points or $9.99 (PS3)

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