Remember Me?	Forgot Password?	Register

NEWS   /    FEATURES   /    INTERVIEWS   /    REVIEWS   /    PREVIEWS

NINTENDO WII FEATURES

0  Why Japanese Developers Need New IPs Part 2 Thu, Sep 2nd, 2010, 9:54 pm (EST) BY ADAM MA Last time we covered what exactly is wrong in the mainstream Japanese gaming industry. The oversaturation of RPGs, longstanding titles that change very little, and of course the terrible attempts at reaching Western consumers certainly don't help much. There's really no reason for these developers (or publishers) to be so afraid of moving their products overseas, in fact there are a lot of great reasons to do so. The market is not only ready for Japan to take the lead again, they're almost begging for it. How do I figure? Allow me to explain. More »

0  Things Older Gamers Like To Moan About Thu, Sep 2nd, 2010, 7:32 pm (EST) BY BEN GRIFFIN The gaming world has changed: videogames come on small, shiny things called CD's. A small child thousands of miles away in Korea can whip your ass at Starcraft II. Resident Evil is now considered to have bad voice acting. HD graphics have rendered the outside world obsolete. Hardcore gamers love EA and hate Activision. Yes, sir, the world has changed, and you can either nobly roll with the punches and embrace the future or sit in your favourite comfy, moth-bitten chair and bitch, bitch, bitch. These are some of the topics in gaming today that make old people feel cold and frightened. More »

6  Top Ten RPGs Of This Generation... So Far Sat, Aug 28th, 2010, 12:46 pm (EST) BY JORDAN DOUGLAS This console generation has seen a remarkable shift in what it means to be a role-playing game. Elements that have traditionally been exclusive to RPGs - such as leveling/upgrading characters and equipment, branching, non-linear plots, and collectible items - have begun to be incorporated in numerous other genres, blurring the lines between them. However, the core RPG genre remains intact, featuring a wide variety of the best Western and Eastern game designers have to offer. This is Gaming Union's top ten RPGs of this console generation (roughly 2005 to present), in alphabetical order. More »

0  5 Peripherals That Will Improve Your Game Fri, Aug 27th, 2010, 4:07 pm (EST) BY ADAM MA Sometimes just practice isn't good enough. Any good athlete will tell you that the tools you use will be just as important as the training and mentality you bring to the field. The same holds true for the gaming world and while being a natural shot or an intuitive strategist helps, having the right equipment makes all the difference in the world. So what exactly should the console/PC gamer be looking for when it comes to accessories? There's a lot, and much of it boils down on personal preference, but it's always nice to be pointed in the right direction. More »

4  Top Ten Development Studios Right Now Thu, Aug 19th, 2010, 10:43 pm (EST) BY JORDAN DOUGLAS Games have always been behind other creative mediums - such as film, music, and literature - when it comes to making consumption choices based on the team behind a product, as opposed to its franchise tag or brand. That being said, the "hardcore", enthusiast crowd has always had a deep appreciation and sense of loyalty toward the select group of studios that continually produce quality. Thankfully, that trend is slowly beginning to penetrate mainstream gaming. With that in mind, we decided to compile a list of the top development studios at the present moment - studios that generate a great deal of anticipation behind their endeavors, and are an influential force in the industry. This list is specifically directed towards individual teams, not publishers (i.e. Nintendo) or multiple teams that produce games under a common label (i.e. Ubisoft Montreal). More »

0  Capcom: The King of Fighters Wed, Aug 11th, 2010, 8:37 pm (EST) BY ADAM MA Capcom is, at the moment, the dominant force in the fighting game industry. There's no sense in denying it, regardless of what style of fighter you may prefer. From their popular Versus series of games (Marvel vs Capcom, Tatsunoko vs Capcom), to their original IPs such as Street Fighter, they're successfully holding a lead that most other developers would die for. But is their position really that hard to reach? Is there a secret formula to Capcom's success that no other developer can copy? Not really, it just takes a little bit of time and listening to a few of your fans to ensure a spot as number one. Though there are many aspects in the fighting genre that are shared across all games, few have done more to assist the multiplayer community like Capcom has. They've set a high bar, an industry standard, but they shouldn't have been the first to do it. Tournament modes, solid netcode, and a few fan-requested updates are all that's really required to turn a 'great' game into an 'awesome' game. Yet despite these pretty basic concepts, other developers continue to mess things up. Leaving out fan favourite characters, or making their games launch with poor online-playability is embarrassing, and makes room for your competition to claim the glory. More »

0  Madden 11 Pre-Launch: Top Five Series Milestones Mon, Aug 9th, 2010, 9:35 pm (EST) BY JORDAN DOUGLAS In gaming, August goes hand-in-hand with the arrival of a new Madden game. It's the time of year that signals the upcoming end of a typically long summer drought in major retail releases. Madden 11 is upon us. To mark the occasion, we decided to chronicle some of the biggest milestones throughout Madden's storied past. A lot has come and gone since 1988's John Madden Football (EA's football debut) on the Apple II - competitors, consoles and misguided additions alike. EA has had its share of successes, as well as some failures over the years - such as the quarterback vision mechanic, Madden IQ test and player weapons. We'll focus on what truly advanced the franchise and has stood the test of time. More »

0  The Case For A Backwards Compatible Rock Band Keyboard Thu, Aug 5th, 2010, 8:37 pm (EST) BY JORDAN DOUGLAS There's been a great deal of buzz surrounding Rock Band 3 as of late, and for good reason - the project is incredibly ambitious, hoping to attract musicians and those eager to learn music skills through the use of real instruments. One opportunity that has been somewhat overlooked amongst the hype is the potential to revisit tracks in previous Rock Band games with the new keyboard peripheral. In particular, The Beatles: Rock Band would benefit greatly from the enhanced functionality, as a large portion of Beatles songs feature prominent keyboard arrangements. It's an idea Harmonix should seriously consider going forward. Introducing keyboards into The Beatles: Rock Band, the rest of the Rock Band catalogue notwithstanding, would be well worth the effort. Imagine playing along to Paul and John's piano compositions on Back In The U.S.S.R., Hey Bulldog and A Little Help From My Friends, or Billy Preston's touches on Get Back, I've Got A Feeling, and Don't Let Me Down - to name just a handful of examples. These songs all feature prominent keyboard parts that are currently played using the guitar controller, which works well enough, but could be so much better on a real MIDI keyboard. In fact, Harmonix should consider updating The Beatles with full Pro Mode support, but for now I'd settle with keyboard support. More »

3  Top Ten Anticipated Games of Fall 2010 Tue, Aug 3rd, 2010, 9:57 pm (EST) BY JORDAN DOUGLAS 2010 has already been a fantastic year for gamers, with an abundance of quality releases throughout the first half of this year. However, the fall holiday season is typically the time of year when the biggest franchises hit store shelves, and 2010 appears to be no different. With that in mind, Gaming Union has compiled a list of the top ten games scheduled for release this fall. It's important to note that we only included announced games on this list - rumored entrances such as Resistance 3 are off the table. Below is our top ten anticipated games of fall 2010, in alphabetical order. More »

1  Motion Control Race Shows Sony And Microsoft Trading Places Wed, Jul 28th, 2010, 11:05 pm (EST) BY JORDAN DOUGLAS The race to motion control is beginning to heat up, as the fall release of both Sony's Move and Microsoft's Kinect are approaching quickly. Prices have been announced, features finalized, and the inevitable mug slinging between each side has commenced. The current battle for perceived value between Sony and Microsoft is strikingly reminiscent of the beginning of this console generation, except the companies have traded sides. In addition to motion control, the hardware restructuring we've seen in the form of PS3 and 360 Slims further reveal this strange role reversal. Much like the launch period of Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Kinect and Move are in a battle for perceived value. One particular point of contention has been Microsoft's $150 standalone price point for Kinect. Detractors have been calling foul, saying that high cost will fail to catch on with the casual audience. Naturally, Sony is more than happy to point out that players can get started with Move for between 50 to 100 dollars. Microsoft's Brett Siddons More »

4  Top Five Most Intense Moments of 2010... So Far Tue, Jul 27th, 2010, 11:17 pm (EST) BY JORDAN DOUGLAS 2010 has been a fantastic year for gamers. It's not often we are able to compile a solid list of 'Game of the Year' contenders only half way through the calender year. Mass Effect 2, Heavy Rain, God of War III, Final Fantasy XIII, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Super Mario Galaxy 2, Alan Wake, Red Dead Redemption, and more are all high quality experiences that would normally be reserved for the holiday season. With that in mind, we decided to examine some of the most intense moments so far this year. Intense could be anything from terrifying to awe inspiring, anything that really got our blood pumping. It should go without saying that if you haven't played these games yet and want to avoid spoilers, stop reading after each headline. The following is the top five most intense moments of 2010... so far. More »

3  The Best Games Of 2010... So Far Fri, Jul 9th, 2010, 9:14 pm (EST) BY ADAM MA I'll cut straight to the chase on this one, 2010 has had some phenomenal games. Most years start out a little slow and then wind up into a big bang, but honestly it's hard to imagine anything better around the corner aside from a few releases here or there. So before we get all wrapped up in Halo: Reach, or severely addicted to the latest MMO, let's take this time to reflect upon the phenomenal games that the first half of 2010 have brought to us. More »

2  Indie, Beating The Mainstream At Its Own Game Mon, Jun 28th, 2010, 9:57 am (EST) BY LEE BRADLEY This is the golden age of indie. The past few years has seen an explosion of astounding independently developed games. Around the world, bedroom coders and small teams of devs are producing some of the most exciting, innovative and just plain fun experiences available. And what's more, with the maturation of digital distribution on consoles, PC and handheld devices, they're reaching ever larger audiences. It's never been easier to make them either. Tools such as Flash, the Unreal Development Kit, Game Maker, Unity and Microsoft XNA have made development ultra-accessible. The creation of videogames has been democratised. Now anyone with an idea and a little skill can realise their dreams in videogame form. More »

0  Why Sega Will Never Stop Making Sonic Games Fri, Jun 11th, 2010, 11:44 am (EST) BY ADAM MA There was a time where Sonic was associated with a level of platforming comparable to Mario, and the blue hedgehog was the go-to guy for a very specific style of gameplay. It wasn't just that Sonic moved fast at times, or that his enemies had some pretty different ways of attacking. For me, it was the levels. They were expansive, well designed, colorful and actually had some branching paths. In a Mario game the rule was 'go forward' and eventually you would reach the end, or the boss room, but Sonic games seemed to reward me for experimenting, hiding those damnable item boxes in strange locations. Every time a new Sonic game comes out, I can't help but remember those times. I look into the new game, see what it's about, and am always tempted to shell out the cash just in case this one is the Sonic revival I've been looking for. I'm always excited about the idea of Sega's mascot making a comeback, at least until they reveal what the game's about. The excitement quickly disappears once I hear Sonic will be exploring space or collecting Olympic rings. Sonic Colors was like a well timed sucker-punch, showing me Sonic running at high speeds (what he does best) then immediately showing me strangely colored creatures that fly into the air. Why Sega? You had me at Sonic running. It's unique to see a company that actually manages to deflate my hype the more I learn about a product. More »

0  The Real Price Tag Of Gaming Thu, Jun 10th, 2010, 5:25 pm (EST) BY ADAM MA Playing any sort of video game has a steep price associated with it, from purchasing the console to going out and actually buying the games you want. I've always accepted this, that there would be a hefty price to whatever game I enjoyed playing the most, and have really tried to make smarter decisions in what to buy. But looking back at the history of gaming (and how I've taken part of this vicious cycle), it's hard not to be bitter about how the games I've had the most fun on have cost me anywhere from double, to More »

5  Struggling Music Rhythm Genre Desperately Needs Innovation Tue, Jun 1st, 2010, 5:25 pm (EST) BY JORDAN DOUGLAS In 2005, the music rhythm genre was revitalized in the West with the release of Guitar Hero, developed by Harmonix. This new era of popularity peaked a couple of years later when Guitar Hero III and the new Harmonix franchise, Rock Band, came along in 2007. At that time music rhythm games were among the most popular in the entire gaming industry - the sky was the limit. With that in mind, publishers tried to capitalize on the immense popularity of Guitar Hero and Rock Band by releasing numerous spin-offs and iterations in a short period of time, saturating the market. This lead to a sharp decline in music game sales for 2009 and a gloomy forecast for 2010. With Green Day: Rock Band just around the corner and Rock Band 3 coming out later this year, what direction does Rock Band need to take to reinvigorate the franchise? Harmonix haven’t revealed much information on Rock Band 3’s feature-set, but a few things have slipped out. First, we know the game will have vocal harmonies, which comes as no surprise considering The Beatles: Rock Band already incorporated that feature. Second, details have emerged which suggest a new keyboard peripheral is in the works. There’s also the interviews with Dhani Harrison (son of The Beatles’ George Harrison) and MTV discussing the possibility of two new features - teaching players more about music through Rock Band and utilizing motion controls such as Natal and Move. All of these features are speculation at this point as Harmonix haven’t officially announced anything yet, but at the very least they show the studio is experimenting with desperately needed innovative ideas. More »

1  Arc Rise Fantasia Brought Down By Subpar Localization Wed, May 12th, 2010, 6:33 pm (EST) BY SHAWN After being released last year in Japan and switching between two publishers in North America, Arc Rise Fantasia is set to be released on the Wii this Summer by Ignition Entertainment. The publisher, who is mostly known for a noticeable lack of attention to detail in their translations, made many people wonder how the game would turn out after they announced they would be taking over publishing duties for the title from XSEED Games. Earlier this month the publisher released the first gameplay videos with English voice actors after announcing a few weeks earlier that the game would only include an English dub instead of being a dual-language release. As many expected, the results didn't stray far from their expectations for the title. More »

0  Reviews Round-Up (Nier, SSFIV, Monster Hunter Tri and More) Sun, May 2nd, 2010, 7:40 pm (EST) BY DARRYL It appears as though we skipped a week, but never fear, as the Reviews Round-Up is back, ready to summarise an action packed week, which saw some top quality releases across numerous platforms. More »

0  Super Mario Galaxy 2 Shooting Past Original Thu, Apr 22nd, 2010, 12:25 pm (EST) BY SHAWN When Nintendo first announced the sequel to the hugely successful Super Mario Galaxy, cleverly-titled Super Mario Galaxy 2, at E3 2009, many gamers were surprised as up until now, each new console Mario title had been on the system that followed the previous title. With news that the game would play very similarly to the original, most wondered if this was a sign that the company's successful console was beginning to fall on hard times and needed to be propped up by its biggest titles. From what has currently been revealed about the game, this couldn't be farther from the truth. The original Super Mario Galaxy was set in outer space, where Mario traveled from galaxy to galaxy in order to collect Power Stars, which could be obtained by solving puzzles or defeating enemies, and sometimes even huge bosses. The highlight of the game came in the new physics system, which revolved around a unique feature of giving every celestial object its own gravitational force, allowing the player to completely circumnavigate the planets, walking either sideways like normal or even upside down. This also applied to jumping from planet to planet, which was one of the prime factors used in a number of the game's most tricky and difficult puzzles. More »

0  Reviews Round-Up (Splinter Cell: Conviction, Samurai Shodown And More) Sun, Apr 18th, 2010, 11:51am (EST) BY COLIN It's Sunday people! Which means it's time for Gaming Union's weekly Reviews Round-up! Last week saw some interesting titles like Cho Aniki Zero for the PSP, Relativity for Xbox Live Indie and the DLC pack for Mass Effect 2, Kasumi: Stolen Memory. More »