Another round against Eddie Gordo, sport?

If I took anything away from the recent Melbourne independent games festival Freeplay (other than a lingering hangover), it was that great things can happen when developers aren’t afraid to mess around with traditional gaming conventions.  For me one of the festival’s stand-out titles was Hazard: The Journey of Life, a philosophical first-person puzzler that created environments based upon impossible physics then used them as a metaphor for human existence.

It’s definitely worth checking out if that type of thing is your bag, but if Hazard sounds a little bit too … arty for your tastes, then maybe you’ll find something to enjoy in the following collection of indie games.  I’m an avid fan of unconventional games (and always partial to a well executed troll), and all of these titles certainly have their own unique take on what a game can be.

Now some of the games I’m about to list can reach dizzying heights of frustration, so it’s probably best that we begin with p0nd.  P0nd is a medatative relaxation game that teaches the player breathing exercises as they walk through a picturesque forest.  You could technically call it an art game, I guess, as the goals are never specifically stated and your success can only be gauged by the level of relaxation it affords you.  Just remember to breathe along with the game’s instructions for the best effect.

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The elegance comes to PC this week

We got two competing bids for the sponsorship on this week’s new releases post – neither were willing to budge above 68 cents, however, so we had to call a draw and ask them both to come back next week.

While you’re waiting, you might want to check out the following new releases:

• Dead Rising 2 (September 29, PC)
• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (September 29, PC)
• FIFA 11 (September 30, 360)
• Shawn White Skateboarding (September 30, 360 / PS3 / Wii)
• Tom Clancy’s HAWX 2 (September 30, PC)

In other news, apparently we’re still making games with Lara Croft in them after all these years.  Oh good.

Not thinking about white bears was also kind of difficult

Seems we’re going through a period of high activity in the high powered field of phsychological research on video game usage.  Last week, Matt filled us in on a University of Rochester study that found action games can make you more decisive.  Not to be outdone, researchers from Ohio State University and Central Michigan University have just released their own study on the effects of violent video gaming.

Apparently, playing violent video games can make you continue to have aggressive feelings for up to 24 hours after you turn the game off, provided that you’re instructed to continue thinking about the game.  Don’t worry though ladies, you’re immune.  It only works on men.

Interestingly, the authors conclude that the results from their sample group will be applicable to the general population because “violent gamers usually play longer than 20 minutes, and probably ruminate about their game play in a habitual manner”.  Interesting.  Whatever we might think of the findings of the study, it seems like it was executed with some degree of scientific rigor but “probably” is apparently OK to apply it to the entire population.  Hmm.

The summary article released by the publisher (haven’t been able to track down the full text as of yet) doesn’t say anything about how strong the effects are or how they compare to playing sports, watching the evening news, getting two-outed on the river or being raised by wolves.  Which means for all we know this could be a storm in a great big proverbial teacup.  But, naturally, nobody will fucking care because there’s an “OMG video games are part of the cancer that is killing kids!” headline in it and that’s all that matters.

The even sadder part is that some people point to this as yet another reason to censor games.  I think they’re missing the point entirely and they should go back and re-read the article because it seems to me that it’s not the games themselves that are to blame – it’s the post-game ”rumination” that we need to be banning.  Lose the rumination and no more problem.

Shit people, do I have to solve all the world’s problems for you?!?

This week’s Australian release list is brought to you by Uncle Jim’s Special Strength Couch Glue, the fine product which has been keeping Matt and Moose glued to Halo: Reach all weekend.  Says Matt:

“We totally would’ve given up and gone outside to kick a football or something* if it weren’t for Uncle Jim’s Special Strength Couch Glue – but this fantastic, innovative product gave us the CBF we needed to stay inside and keep grinding away.”

If you need something to do this week while trying out Uncle Jim’s Special Strength Couch Glue for yourself, the following titles are making its way to game store shelves this week.  Just remember to go buy them before you apply the product:

• Delve Deeper (September 20, PC)
• DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue (September 22, XBL / PSN)
• Blade Kitten (September 23, PC)
• F1: 2010 (September 23, 360 / PC / PS3)
• Mahjong Mystery Ancient Egypt (September 23, DS)
• Pokepark Pikachu Adventure (September 23, DS)
• Quantum Theory (September 23, 360 / PS3)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization 5 (September 23, PC)
• Trackmania Turbo (Septebmer 23, DS)
• Dead Rising 2 (September 24, 360 / PS3)

I’m off to look into whether I can really be bothered geeking out and getting a wheel and pedals to play F1: 2010 with or whether I’ll have to make do with my trusty Xbox for Windows controller when I’m whuping Hamilton and Vettel’s whiny butts, so until next week…

* OK, I took the fiction a little too far with that line, didn’t I…

LeChuck's Revenge is a dish best served cold

A year or so ago when I reviewed The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, I tacked a little comment on to my suggestion to purchase saying that we should all buy ourselves a copy to ensure that LeChuck’s Revenge: Special Edition was made.  Given LucasArts’ fine tradition of recycling their IPs I’m not sure what inside me ever considered that they wouldn’t deliver a special edition of the sequel, but a little over a year later and here I am sitting in front of a spectacularly re-rendered version of Monkey 2.

The game begins with Guybrush Threepwood (purveyor of fine leather jackets) stuck on the lawless Scabb Island, continuing his search for the mythical treasure of Big Whoop … but then you already know that story, and I’m sure almost 95% of people who end up buying MI2:SE do too.  The Monkey Island games are undeniably pure genius, but their continued creation relies on the fact that nostalgic gamers like myself will shell out the cash unquestioningly.  Luckily the brand new Monkey 2 will only set you back ~$10 however, a price that more than equals it’s value in lingering nostalgia alone.

But if the nostalgia isn’t enough then what you’ll be paying for is a completely voice acted, re-rendered, re-orchestrated, widescreen version of the original game, with a couple of neat little extras thrown in.  If you played Monkey Island: Special Edition then you know just what to expect … and if you haven’t played Monkey Island: Special Edition then why are you even considering buying it’s sequel? (more…)

Don't look in his eyes, he can smell fear

Panic in the streets today, as a recent study undertaken by the University of Rochester has found that people who play first-person shooters make decisions up to 25% faster than people who play more family orientated titles.

The study took a test group of 18-25 year olds and split them into two groups.  One group clocked 50 hours of fragging in Unreal Tournament and Call of Duty 2, while the other group spent an equal amount of time playing The Sims 2.  After gaming, participants were given a series of audio and visual perceptual tests.  While the ratio of correct answers was around the same, participants in the action gaming groups came to their conclusions consistently faster than their simulation gaming peers.

… researchers found that video game players develop a heightened sensitivity to what is going on around them, and this benefit doesn’t just make them better at playing video games, but improves a wide variety of general skills that can help with everyday activities …

-University of Rochester, confirming our fears

Note the results of this study too.  It’s not that action gamers answered more questions correctly than other gamers, just that they were quicker in making up their minds.  This effectively means that if an action gamer makes a bad decision, he makes it far faster than a mere Joe 12-pack could.

And if that’s not enough reason to be shitting your pants in terror, this is the same university which claimed in 2007 that playing action video games sharpens gamers eyesight by ~20%.  So not only are gamers more prone to violence (something which incidentally they’re completely desensitized to) but they can decide to be violent 25% faster and use their hawk-like eyes to carry the violent act out.

It’s the clear the only response governments around the world can now take is to quietly mobilise their respective military forces, and scatter Cheetos in front of key staging areas with the hopes of delaying the hyper-aware yet hopelessly snack food addicted hordes.

How can people continue to ignore the warning signs?  Science is telling us to remain ever vigilant against this menace, friends!  Or at least try and limit your gaming to titles like Pony Friends 2 and Imagine! Babbies!

Johnson the albino merc gets a bad feeling...

Our regular readers will all know by now what a giant Mass Effect fanboy I am.  Despite that, I’ve found most of the game’s recent DLC packs a tad underwhelming.  What then can Lair of the Shadow Broker, the latest add-on for Mass Effect 2, offer us?

The story begins, as usual, with a message from Charlie / the Illusive Man.  Somehow he’s managed to find information that could lead someone to the Shadow Broker, and there’s no someone in the galaxy more interested in finding him than your old teammate Liara T’Soni.  So you trot off to Illium to share the news with her and thus begins another merry adventure complete with mercenary battles, hostage negotiations and lightning rods.  That’s right – fucking lightning rods, kids. (more…)

Is Bill Pullman in any video games? Because he should be ...

Here’s a quick wrap of some of the stories you might have missed in our absence – because we know you’re all super-loyal readers and wouldn’t bother going anywhere else for your gaming news fix while we’re away!

Firstly, Australia had a shambles of an election.  It was being reported just before the election that Stephen Conroy’s Insane Internet Filter(TM) had been killed and a Green balance of power in the Senate means it’s unlikely to come back any time soon.  Let’s all have three belated cheers for sanity prevailing.

The owners of Mana Bar in Brisbane have announced that they’re brining their video-games-and-booze concept to Sydney, Melbourne and beyond.  Expect our first ever bar review when they open in Melbourne, which we’re told will be before the end for 2010.

Gamers will get to drive the virtual version of the Korean Grand Prix track before the real Formula 1 drivers even get a crack at it thanks to F1: 2010.  That excites F1 nerds like me, even if it does nothing for the rest of you.

Telltale are releasing a single-player poker game for less than a $5NL buyin and nobody’s really sure why.  But since I’m a poker nerd when I’m not being an F1 nerd, expect a review shortly where I’ll try my best not to use phrases like “unbalanced three-bet range”.

Finally, Gearbox have announced at PAX that they’ve taken over the reigns of Duke Nukem Forever, scheduling it’s release for 2011 and effectively ruining the gaming industry’s longest running joke.  Oh well, I guess there’s still Half-Life 2: Episode 3.

We salute you, intrepid chrononaut!

This week’s Australian new release list is brought to you by long absences and sexy new layouts – now with more wallpaper and less brown!

The following titles will be making their way to an electronic entertainment emporium near you in the near future:

• Halo: Reach (September 14, 360)
• Darksiders (September 15, PC)
• Kung Fu Rider (September 16, PS3)
• Sports Champions (September 16, PS3)
• Start the Party! (September 16, PS3)
• Two Worlds II (September 17, PC)
• King’s Bounty: Crossworlds (September 18, PC)

Two Worlds II gets this week’s “I suppose using Roman numerals made that less confusing award”.  Also out this week is Sony’s new PlayStation Move which, if you believe future Kevin Butler, is going to be a great success.

Welcome back to content everyone, I’ll have another batch of releases for you next week!