All Entries Tagged With: "PlayStation 2"

Then and Now: The History of Tekken

Tekken is one of the most storied fighting games of all time. Its name is synonymous with arcades, tournaments and the fighting genre in general. It is also one of the purveyors of the at home multiplayer experience on consoles and has sold millions of copies. It has been adapted in both animated and live action movies.

There are entries in the Tekken series on the WonderSwan, GameBoy Advance, mobile phone, PSP, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 gaming platforms. Thousands of dollars have changed hands in worldwide Tekken tournaments and contests. It was one of the first Japanese games whose popularity transcended region.

It packed arcades globally and has done so since 1994. It is a household name that has brought competitive fighters to the masses and its success is beyond comparison to nearly any game in its genre. Tekken is considered by some to be the pinnacle of the fighting game genre, and it has amassed millions of fans around the globe.

But it did not become the worldwide phenomenon that it is today overnight. Pull up a chair and join me, as we traverse the humble beginnings of what has become a legacy.

An Unlikely Comparison – Mass Effect and Persona 3

As I was playing through Persona 3 Portable recently, something quite interesting dawned on me. I alluded to this in my review, but I’d like to discuss it in more detail and perhaps get a good discussion going around the subject. What I realized was that, in everything that really matters, Persona 3 isn’t so different from Mass Effect. Mass Effect, especially the original, belongs to a sub-genre of RPGs that gamers typically consider to be about as different from Japanese RPGs as you can get, so why am I going and comparing two completely different games within two completely different sub-genres? Think about it a moment, though. Are they really that different in the areas that really matter?

Why do I even bring this up? It is mostly just my convoluted mind playing tricks on me, to be honest. I came up with a crazy thought and, the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn’t too far from the truth. I think the disparity between fans of JRPGs and fans of WRPGs calls for a wake-up call. Every time I see a thread on some random Internet forum about one or the other, there are always haters that place their preferred RPG style up on a pedestal like no one can touch it. But, the truth of the matter is, these sub-genres may not be as different from each other as you think, and comparing these two very different yet oh-so-similar games seemed like the right idea to help make people aware of this.

So, open your mind a bit (I know, it’s difficult) and follow me on a journey as I take a look at various aspects of these games. You may be surprised just how similar they are.

Great Game Finds – The Gems I’ve Been Looking For

I’ve never considered myself a game collector, per se. The only titles I’m real interested in keeping around or acquiring are JRPGs, and a lot of that has to do with the rare nature of many of the niche titles. There’s one game in particular I’ve been looking for for years, ever since I borrowed it from my sister and played it all those years ago – Tales of Symphonia. Yep, the GameCube title, which is considered one of the best of the Tales franchise, has been eluding me for years.

Today, thanks to GameStop’s “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” promotion going on this week, I finally found it.

Microsoft’s Kinect Has the Most Original Name Ever… or Does it?

If I said to you “Full body, motion controlled gaming, sounds a lot like Kinetic” then what would you think of? Well since Microsoft’s pompous E3 event where they rammed their latest gimmick down our throats I’m sure the majority would yell out in chorus “it’s Kinect for Xbox 360 of course, the hands free motion controller formerly known as Project Natal YAY!”

Well you’re wrong, that is not what I was talking about at all.

Proving once again that they don’t have a shred of originality in the entire company, Microsoft couldn’t even come up with the title for their overpriced webcam by themselves. We at DualShockers have come across this little known title released for Sony’s PlayStation 2 EyeToy named Kinetic which makes us wonder exactly what Microsoft’s marketing team do to earn their million dollar salaries? Now obviously Kinetic isn’t anywhere near as cool as the clever play on words that is “Kinect” (psssst, it’s connect + kinetic = d34d cl3v3r l1k3 hurrr hurr) but surely Microsoft could have made a teeny tiny bit more effort not to look like they completely ripped the name off from the opposition.

Mind you, since Kinect is just an overpriced EyeToy anyway according to some minds (see here) I guess the name makes sense… go Microsoft!

Will Call of Duty MMO Trigger Cross-Platform Activision Network?

[Feel free to chime in with your own opinions in the comments section once you've read through mine and give us your raw reaction to this revolutionary way of thinking for the Call of Duty franchise. Keep in mind, this is not just about being able to play with each other across other systems, although that is the main idea, but also the huge evolution that Call of Duty could experience as a result and how it could re-ignite the passion that a few of us gamers have lost with playing the series.]

With the realization of one monumental cross-platform feature after another in the video games industry it only makes sense that the big dog should share in the innovation that is taking place on services like Steam, which now allows Mac gamers to pair up with Windows PC gamers for a good time, and of course Sony Online Entertainment’s upcoming DC Universe Online allowing PC/PS3 gamers to unite. Who can forget past miracles like Final Fantasy XI allowing PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox 360 gamers to play together.

Recently Activision echoed the sentiments that a good portion of Xbox Live users primarily play Call of Duty games as their main title on the online service, or as their only title in some cases. Beyond this there have also been talks for some time now about making Call of Duty a subscription-based game in future iterations, this would likely include an expansive re-think of the franchise which could very well add a lot to the game experience being offered.

Taking all of this into account, one thing that has always annoyed me as a gamer is the fact that I have to go out and buy another system if I want to play video games with a friend who only owns one or the other. In the case of Call of Duty we have PC gamers, PS3 gamers, and Xbox 360 gamers and if you want to play with these crowds you must own each machine respectively.

Not only is this a hindrance for gamers and their convenience/ability to play with friends online enjoying the game series, it is also a huge missed opportunity for Activision, and I believe they have realized this as well. The company states that over 75% of their profit is made without the help of gaming consoles, this is a scary statistic to anyone who prefers gaming on these consoles but we need to stop and think about how much better this game could be on the console before becoming worried that it’s all about PC/consumer devices for future COD games.

Lego Harry Potter Year Four Vignette

I am a big fan of the ever humorous Lego style games like Lego Indiana Jones, Star Wars and Batman. Now everyone is strapping in for Lego Harry Potter so here is a Year Four Vignette to give you a flavor of what is in store for you. Lego Batman has been the high point of these series but Harry Potter looks pretty good and could give it a run for its money. What do you think? There was a shark suit in the video and that has to be cool!

Scooby-Doo! and the Spooky Swamp Coming This Fall

Scooby Doo! Where are you? Coming to a video game system near you this Fall is where he’s at. Set for release this Fall, Scooby Doo! and the Spooky Swamp will be the latest game featuring every body’s favorite dog detective. Available for the Wii, Nintendo DS, and the PlayStation 2, Scooby Doo! and the Spooky Swamp will follow Scooby and the gang as the try to unravel the mystery behind a strange swamp girl and her peculiar cauldron of brew.

Video Game Experience: Is Violence Really Caused by Games?

Creating a video game experience is an art form similar to animated cartoons, novels, and films. In video games, real-life as well as fantasy situations occur that compel the player to respond to and interact with dozens of characters and sometimes whole new worlds. There are many different games that offer a diverse selection of player experience. When one plays a game they experience anything the game’s creators created. Senses can be satisfied by the realistic sounds of their character walking on a marble floor or the special effects that make everything bright when they look at the sun.

The main idea is if you are experiencing everything the character is experiencing you can allow yourself to believe that you are that person every time you play, and the achieved outcome is a video game that players want to experience more than once. But can violent games push an individual over the edge of what is an engaging experience and actually cause real life violence to occur? If so, how do experts tell the difference between violence caused by games and unrelated external factors that play a role?

NCAA Football 11 Cover Athlete Prefers NCAA Over Madden

EA Sports Insider brings in Heisman Trophy-winning American football player (Gator/Bronco) Tim Tebow for the cover of NCAA Football 11 and gets his opinion on why the title stands out from others. Here is the video featuring a rundown on why rivalries are more genuine in college football and how that translates to gaming. NCAA Football 11 will also feature the Locomotion feature talked about in the EA Dev Video for Madden NFL 11 Game Flow + Game Planning. Let us know what you think of the latest ad from EA Sports and which football video game you will be most interested in this year.

Madden NFL 11 Dev Video: Game Flow + Game Planning

Check out another developer video from EA Sports that gives a very informative look at the way the new Madden NFL 11 title will play out for games come this August. Game flow is analyzed here with footage of game play showing off the upcoming title and what it will bring for football video game fans worldwide. Gain a greater understanding of what to expect from this video series and let us know what you think about the game based on what you’ve seen so far.

Madden NFL 11 Dev Video Series Kicks Off

Many game publishers such as EA Sports have already begun raining down 2011 game information. Madden NFL 10 is still being enjoyed by a massive audience meanwhile Madden NFL 11 is already surfacing in the form of developer videos. This video gives us a look into what went on behind the decision to remove play call from the game. Talk about the dynamics of how this changes Madden NFL 11 and why, as well as insight on what it was like working with John Madden during the early design phase of the title, brings a new perspective on authenticity in football video games.

MLB10 The Show PSP Review

Baseball is in full swing and for baseball fans it couldn’t have come soon enough. MLB10 The Show is up to bat on the PSP and DualShockers has the review for gamers. Whether your a Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, or Phillies fan, MLB10 The Show combines all of the baseball goodness right in the palm of your hand. Throwing a 90 mph fastball has never been this easy.