Bordering the pyschotic

It's every person dream to be in and alternate place void of rules and free to explore...

Throw in Eighty Gazillion guns..
A Duel Wielding, Gun toting lunatic..
A slightly MGS reminiscent ninja-esque , Sword swinger...
Yet another phasewalking, sneaky blue haired girl...
and a Sniper specialist and most gamers will be left assuming they'll wake up from this dream drooling on their favorite pokemon plushie anytime soon.
Well....
Gearbox has announced it, Gamer's have eaten every morsel of data about it up, I have passed out with excitment over it and well....

BORDERLANDS 2 WILL BE RELEASED IN 2012!

So yes, It is evident that this shooter/RPG's roleplaying elements were meagre at best  and wern't what really sold the game, But if your like most humans and prefer to shoot and never bother to even ask questions afterwards, Then this beautifully crafted game featuring Gearbox's unique form of cell-shaded/photo-realistic violence and action including more guns than a terrorists shed! ... Is probably right up your insanely well armed street!

Throw into the mix that they have now ventured beyond the desolate areas of Pandora which you grew tiresome of in there first endeavor to include glacial areas reminiscent of Iceland/Antarctica and area reflective of the Scottish Highlands ensuring you'll start every gaming session screaming FREEDOM!

So to get back to why your here, Borderlands 2 is set five years after you realised that the vault hunters of Pandora were chasing fairytales and the 'trasure' was more a bloodthirsty monster and Hyperion Corporation have now crawled out of the woodwork with leader Handsome Jack  who is striving to become ruler of Pandora.

Now featuring four new heroes who are now required to aide and fight alongside the original Brick, Lilith,   Roland and Mordecai. Who have all been hard done by as a result of Handsome Jacks new regime of gun manufacturing and slight psychotic dreams of grandeur.

The new heroes..
Salvador, The gunzerker...
Maya, The phasewalker...
zero, The sword-wielding ninja....
and
Axton, The sniper expert.

With a promise of more bullet spraying mayhem...

I SHALL SEE YOU IN PANDORA!!

Stay a while and listen....

"It has been said that in the end of all things, we would find a new beginning. But as the shadow once again crawls across our world and the stench of terror drifts on a bitter wind, people pray for strength and guidance. They should pray for the mercy of a swift death... for I've seen what the Darkness hides." 

- Leah,

Diablo 3 was finally announced after much speculation on June 28th, 2008 and following it's global release just 2 weeks ago on May 15th, 2012 became the fastest-selling PC game ever with gamers consuming 3.5 million copies on the first day of release!

According to a blizzard press release (available at - http://eu.blizzard.com/en-gb/company/press/pressreleases.html?id=4662221) Diablo 3 had shifted a total of 6.3 million units by the end of it's first week, Also with a soundtrack available on iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id521963750), Music from previous games available too (http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id526272040), A book wirrten by an in game character available on amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diablo-III-Book-Cain-Deckard/dp/1608870634/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338140766&sr=8-1) and various novels available on the blizzard website along with mousepads and various other fan merch. It's clear to say THIS IS BLIZZARDS YEAR, ANd 'EVIL IS IN ITS PRIME!

To go along with the release of the game, An anime short which explains a great battle which forged the history of Diablo was released on Youtube. Catch Diablo 3 : Wrath @ ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEAPxgMCEA8&list=UUxn8csYeZg6awRnZS-aqg0g&index=2&feature=plcp&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fuser%2Fdiablo ) along with an explanation of Diablo's Claymation roots from over 16 years ago called diablo retrospective ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLedw4HACNc&feature=relmfu ).

"15 years ago, The Lord of Terror was unleashed upon the world. In 1995 a small development studio called Condor Games approached Blizzard Entertainment with an idea for a clay-mation, turn based, single player, RPG With the working title of DIABLO." - Diablo retrospective (Youtube)

The beta for Diablo 3 went live on April 20th 2012 and saw people scrambling in their free time to test the game they had been waiting for and were not disappointed. Despite the game crashing various times in it's beta test and numerous faults, problems and error codes flashing. This game held it's own and brought 6.3 million people back by the 1st week of it's official global launch eager to see what happened after their beta ended their warriors battles at level 13 and half way through Act 1 after fighting The skeleton King (One of sanctuary's most known bosses). 

So Diablo 3 was released and with it the Prime Evils newest story would be told with the introduction of new angrier Lesser Evils and the introduction of the new BLACK SOULSTONE.  This Action-RPG game see's you visiting once again the fictional fantasy world of Santuary where your hero must quest to decipher rumours of a Fallen Angel and how this ties in with the tales of Deckard Cain and how "this is a sign.... an omen...that the end times have begun!"

Within Diablo 3 many old favorites are back including the games namesake Diablo along with The Butcher, King Leoric (Aka The Skeleton King) , Deckard Cain and Tyreal.  Among the golden oldies are a mass of newer goodies and baddies to deal with along with Leah, Azmodan and Belial.

The game now features 5 diverse classes including The classic Barbarian and Sorcerer classes along with the new Monk, Demon Hunter and Witch Doctor classes. Though They may be new the clases that feature within Diablo 3 show a major similarity when it comes to spells/gameplay style for instance the Wtich Doctore summoning demons to fight for him is reminiscent of Diablo 2's Necromancer and The Monks Light and prayer skills are reminiscent of Diablo 2's paladin. 

In Diablo 3 you are a Nephalem (Human basically) Who must venture around Santuary in the hope of finding clues to aid you to stopping the newest demon onslaught. With your adopted alias you must slay hordes of monsters and many elite creatures including bosses and monsters with special attack advantages such as arcane spells or the ability to lock you in a forcefield known as a jail. As you level up through generating XP you acquire stroger and more powerful items along with learning various skills to buff your hero.

CAUTION READ NO FURTHER, REST OF POST INCLUDES SPOILERS TO THE GAMES STORYLINE/ CHARACTERS!

The boss creaturs of Diablo 3!

Diablo 3 Demon Hunter

Diablo 3 Monk

Diablo 3 Witch Doctor

Diablo 3 Azmodan

Diablo 3 Barbarian

Diablo 3 Wizard

Aoineko Studio's Presents .......Kitaru!

This week I sat down with Josh Taylor a level designer who is working on a project alongside Aoineko studios called Kitaru.

 Kitaru is a jRPG and was the brainchild of project leader Ben Steele back in 2006.

Now running on the Unity3D gaming engine , Kitaru has developed from your standard jRPG into a delicious cocktail of mini-games, Intuitive touch controls and turn based active-time battles resulting in a mix of post-modern story telling and classinc RPG gameplay such as third person exploration and conversation driven NPC interactions.

 Based in the heli galaxy on a planet known as Sen IV, The story takes place in Haifa, A war-ravaged country whih is home to four houses (reminiscent of factions in other games) which are in constant conflict with society in their struggle for money, control and power. These four houses are known as...

 Yuna - The house that controls the deserts with their mystical powers.

 Rham -The house that controls weaponry and the slave trade.

 Masel - The house that controls the drug trade.

 and Saph - The house that controls them all.

 Within this war for dominance, The only thing maintaining order and balance within Haifa is the House of Saph and their powerful team of deadly assassins led by prodigy Akai.

Akai is a beautiful girl but her pretty exterior houses a headstrong soldier who has exceeded all other trainees in every aspect, With only one exception.....Her sadistic mentor Qoss.

Akai petitioned to have greater freedom,But Saph's ruler insisted she prove herself worthy of this privilege before being granted it, But Akai had other plans.....

As she takes off for a taste of some real action she uncovers a plot that will see the house of Rham smuggle weapons inot the city of Haifa right under the Saph's nose. Mr Taylor ended this meeting with a short but highly suggestive statement....

"Is this Akai's chance to prove herself or is she way over her head? To what cost will her pride and impatience take her?"

Kitaru is currently seeking it's final section of funding through www.kickstarter.com and has 856 people backing it with over $22,700 donated already to fund this project. Aoineko studios only need to reach $25,000 for this project to be entirely complete. If you wish to donate visit...

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bensteele/kitaru/pledge/new?clicked_reward=false&logged_in=true&p=0&ref=category&v=u

There are various rewards to be had with your donation depending on the amount donated and they are..

$15 - FIRST MOVER – Pre-release copy of Kitaru for your platform of choice (PC, Mac, iOS, Android) AND an exclusive in-game object AND Official Supporter-stamped "Save the Game Designers" Digital Wallpaper and our heartfelt thank you!

$25+ -BEHIND THE SCENES - Exclusive access to Dev Blog, along with Pre-release copy of Kitaru for your platform of choice (PC, Mac, iOS, Android) AND an exclusive in-game object AND Kitaru Official Supporter-stamped Digital Wallpaper. 

$50+ - MEDIA PACKAGE - Kitaru Original Soundtrack Vol. I (for download) AND Digital Wallpapers for main characters AND limited-edition Kitaru Digital Comic Book AND the previous reward level!

$75+ - GAME DEV SCHOOL - Learn indie game dev tips from our experienced team via exclusive VIP access to the Kitaru Dev Blog and a monthly video conference call with key members of dev team! AND Kitaru Original Soundtrack Vol. II (for download) AND Honorable Developer Status recognition in game credits AND all previous rewards!

$100+ - JOIN THE BETA TEAM! - Participate as a Beta Game Tester during game development AND Ability to personally submit your game ideas via private Kitaru Team email address! AND Five Limited-Edition 4"x6" Character Cards AND Bronze Status recognition in game credits AND all previous rewards! (Please add $20 for international shipping)

$250+ - SWAG BAG - Limited-Edition Designer Kitaru T-Shirt from creator, Ben Steele AND Limited-Edition Kitaru Game Poster, numbered & signed by Ben Steele and the dev team (suitable for framing) AND Remastered DVD of award-winning Fragile Machine, signed by creator, Ben Steele AND Silver Status recognition in game credits AND all previous rewards! (Please add $20 for international shipping)

$500+ - GET INVOLVED – Have your Name or Handle Image placed in the game AND a 30 minute Video Conf with Ben Steele to discuss the development of the Kitaru story AND a ONE OF A KIND Kitaru Game Poster, featuring your screen shot, signed by Ben Steele and the dev team AND Original Kitaru Level Design Sketch by Danny Escoto (first 10 donors) OR Original Kitaru Character Sketch by Ben Steele (second 10 donors) AND Gold Status recognition in game credits AND all previous rewards! (Please add $20 for international shipping) (99 of 100 remaining)

$700+ - Have you ever played a game but thought to yourself, "Man I really wish I could pick up this (BLANK) and use it as a weapon", or, "Man, I really wish someone would invent s (BLANK) in game weapon." Your wish is now granted!!! At a $700 pledge level, you can now design a weapon of your choice, for the game KITARU, as well as receive the rewards at the $250 tiers and lower. (15 of 15 remaining)

$1000+ - THE NAME GAME - Work personally with our design team to name a character in the game AND a ONE OF A KIND Kitaru Game Poster, featuring your named character, signed by Ben Steele and the dev team AND Ten 4"x6" Character Cards, featuring your character to share with friends AND VIP and Beta access to all future releases of Kitaru! AND Get a Kitaru Voice Actor to personally record your voicemail! (Choices include Ben10/The Prince of Persia Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt from Bleach, Naruto & FFXIII) AND Platinum Status recognition in game credits AND all previous rewards at the $250 level and lower! (13 of 15 remaining)

$2500+ - BE A STAR! - Work with design team to create an in-game virtual character of yourself AND a ONE OF A KIND Kitaru Game Poster, featuring your virtual character, signed by Ben Steele and the dev team AND Ten 4"x6" Character Cards, featuring your personalized character to share with friends AND all previous rewards at the $250 level and lower! (10 of 10 remaining)

$3000+ - FEATURED PRODUCTS - Prominent in-game billboard and/or product placement (for yourself or your company), AND all previous rewards at the $250 level and lower! (5 of 5 remaining)

With only seven days and $3000 to go and a chance for you guys to get yourself some tasty rewards I can see Aoineko Studios and Kitaru paving themselves the way to great things. To view the entire project visit ...

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bensteele/kitaru?ref=category

to view the trailer on Youtube visit...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRpvhNE8iNw&list=UUHMmY5UAPOsUCENxD27-MiQ&index=9&feature=plcp or

visit Aoineko Studios own Youtube/web page...

http://www.youtube.com/user/aoinekostudios

http://www.aoineko.com/

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3, is the magic number

This year 3 seems to be the magic number when it comes to game releases, and on that note so does 2...and 4...

Regardless, it's a year filled with numbers and exciting games to go with them - we all love sequels. So, without further ado I present to you a post displaying all the awesome sequels that are due for release/have been released this year. 

Out now:

Final Fantasy XIII-2

Soulcalibur V

Disgaea 3

Witcher 2

Max Payne 3

Diablo III

Coming this year:

Prototype 2

Darksiders II

Boarderlands 2

Dead or Alive 5

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Halo 4

Resident Evil 6

Assassins Creed III

I have to say, I don't think I've been this excited about a year's gaming for a while. 2011 was pretty epic, but this year just pushes it aside. Are you looking forward to this year too?

Valhalla

5 Things Every Gamer Needs

The world of the gamer is tough, we know that, we understand the constant struggle to beat the worldwide high score, the desperation to obtain that ultra-rare sword. That's why we, at The Control Room, have put together a list of 10 things every gamer needs to survive those long nights spent blasting zombies and handing in quests. From PC gamer to XBOX fanatic, we have what you've been looking for.

1. A gaming platform.

Yes, if you want to play video games you're going to need something to play them on. It all depends on what you want - here are some platforms that we suggest.


XBOX 360

PS3

Wii

Or, for you PC gamers you have the harder choice of which laptop/desktop to choose. Personally, I like the feel and power of an Alienware, but you might prefer something else.

2. Games

You should always have a good selection of games to play during the night - you might feel like switching games after a few hours and a decent variety is always good to have. In an evening I like to have something  like this - how about you?

3. A comfy place to sit.

This is incredibly important. Being comfortable allows for better gameplay. A hard wood floor when playing consoles is not comfortable, trust me, and can really damage my aim in shooter games. A nice cushy chair in front of the PC or a nice fluff;y couch can really help you relax and get into the game.

I want this chair so bad...

4. Food, drink and lots of it.

You're pulling an all nighter to complete that all important raid or finally finish the level that's been driving you crazy for weeks - or maybe you're just battling your friends. Either way, you're going to need energy to help you stay alert and ready for action. Before starting a long gaming session we suggest running to the store and picking up loads of snacks.

You'll go through at least 10 of these plus soda.

5. To enjoy the game.

It may sound cheesy, but there is nothing worse than sitting down to play a game and getting stressed over certain levels. Make sure to stay relaxed and just take the game as it comes. If you have to try a certain part again, then don't worry - it's all experience in the end.

So there you have it - 5 basic things that every gamer needs to enjoy themselves. If you have friends to play with then drag them over to you place or challenge them to PvP style or co-op battles online. The possibilities are endless.

Valhalla

Nintendo's new Console

You may have heard of Nintendo's latest console in passing. It's been talked about for quite some time, and, more recently, Nintendo have told us when to expect it to hit our shelves. The Wii U is coming in the fourth quarter of 2012, and the company are expecting to hit high sales with their latest creation. However, the reviews are mixed and so we ask, what exactly is the Wii U all about?

I did some research in hopes of finding a balanced argument, as we aren't lucky enough to have a Wii U of our own to play on. From what we've seen it looks like two consoles in one - something that we found very interesting. The main console is similar to the Wii in size, being only slightly larger. It's the controller that's really different. It's a touchscreen controller, not dissimilar to the touchscreen on a 3DS and it can be used for a whole host of things whilst playing video games.

Let's take a closer look at the controller, it seems to be the main point of focus. The controller is relatively flat and around the same size as a 3DS, but it only has one screen. The controller can be used to enhance gameplay (such as viewing the inventory on the Zelda game) or to continue playing a game that was previously on the TV if somene changes the channel whilst you play. This can be seen in the trailer below. Regular Wii controllers are compatible with the Wii U as the newst Nintendo console has been made backwards compatible with the Wii. So, if you want to go multiplayer on a game the best thing to do it bring out the old Wii controllers. Why not use two Wii U controllers you might ask. Well, the main reaosn is that whilst it is technically possible for two Wii U controllers to be used, the console was only really designed for one, mainly due to the high price of indiviadual controllers. It has yet to be confirmed if two Wii U controllers are definitely compatible. The wonderful thing about the controller is the fact that it can do so much. Art, internet browsing, enchancing gameplay, acting as its own handheld, built in camera...the list goes on. It's more about the new controller than the actual console.

The only noteable changes to the actual console are that the graphics have been enhanced, the shape is different and it's slightly bigger than the Wii, but still smaller than the XBOX 360 and the PS3. This is where the arguments come in. Some sources claim that the Wii's graphics will not be as a good as the XBOX and PS3, making the console less valuable and saleable. Others say that the graphics and quality are just as good and don't hinder gameplay in any way. I can't tell you who's right, but it seems like an interesting debate. Perhaps the London Expo will have a Wii U for trial?

What I do know is that Nintendo have got some really hardcore games coming out on the Wii U - and I mean some serious stuff. Just take a look at a few of the current planned releases.

Assassins Creed III
Darksiders II
Arkham City
A new Battlefield

For us older gamers this is heaven on a plate - Nintendo is releasing some pretty fantastic titles on their latest console. I reckon I'll be there - will you?

Take a look at the trailer here.

We'll keep you posted on any news that we come across!

Valhalla

Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

A post from our guest blogger Faado. A massive thank you to him for this review on the latest Zelda game. - The Control Room. 

Ok so I was looking through the past reviews and I noticed that there was a review for twilight princess but not skyward sword. So I thought to myself “something must be done about this! Challenge accepted”   

And here it is:  

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword 

Ok so by this point in life we should all know the main characters in the Zelda series and if you don’t then you need to get down to the local game store and buy yourself a Nintendo console ('cause you obviously don’t own one. How else can you explain the lack of Zelda in your life?). For this particular title you will be needing a Nintendo Wii and a Wii motion plus controller. But I digress; this is about the game itself not the amazing consoles. So the game starts as the hero Link (not Zelda, Zelda is a girls name) is waking up on the day of his final flying exam, but as with any teenager his first thoughts upon waking up are not ‘HOLY MOLEY, I HAVE AN EXAM TODAY!’ No his first thoughts were ‘right lets go chill with my mates for a bit, 'cause that’s just how epic I am” so he goes to find the most important person to him, good old, not so princess, Zelda. And what does she do? She does what any good girl would do - completely ignores everything he says and throws him off the edge of their flying island only to realise that something is wrong, dive off the edge to save him with her giant bird, and then break down in tears when she realises she almost killed her ‘best friend’. So then your left with one major question, “hey where the heck is my giant bird? I’m the main character, I need a giant bird!” and this is where you meet the most obvious character in the game. Obvious how? Well Link is effectively in school, and what does every good school need? That’s right, an overconfident bully. Enter Groose, the greatest idiot to have ever graced a legend of Zelda game. Turns out in an effort keep our man Link out of the final exam, which takes the form of a race, Groose and his boys have somehow managed to capture and lock away your faithful, flying companion. Of course this is no problem for our great adventurer and he quickly rushes of to free his bird and wipe the smug grin off Grooses face. 

Now it’s not too long after this that our heroes’ world gets casually flipped upside down and he is forced to watch as his precious friend is dragged down below the thick clouds that had been the edge of their world for as long as anybody had known. And so Link is forced to begin his search for a way down below the clouds, which inevitably leads to the acquisition of the titular, Skyward Sword, and the meeting with a character so annoying I actually cried for Navi at times. Once you’re stuck with Fi (and when I say stuck I mean there is absolutely no getting rid of her) then you're off for your first experience of good old fashioned Hyrule and you know what that means… your first dungeon, and more importantly your first boss; who is quite possibly one of the campest bosses in video game history and my personal second favourite character in the entire game. Now as stories go Skywards swords is pretty good, admittedly it can be a little predictable at times, but I found that those moments weren’t disappointing in the slightest - instead they managed to make you feel good about story and the way in which it was heading. 

Now as far as the actual game play is concerned the most difficult thing about it, in my opinion, was getting used to the motion plus controls. Being an unfortunately lazy gamer I found myself trying to play the game with just general swings of the remote - the kind required for twilight princess… or any Wii game before the motion plus. Of course once I realised that just wasn’t going to happen, I picked myself a seated position that allowed adequate arm swinging room and started playing the game properly, like a boss. My personal favourite feature of the game is the rather simple item upgrades, that’s not just the sword but pretty much everything from bug nets to the rather beautiful bow… well that, of course and the flying on a giant bird (can’t express how cool they are.). 

Next up is the graphics. Now as a hard core gamer and someone who had just transferred from the mighty Skyrim, there was something about the Skyward Sword graphics that weren’t quite the HQ games I was used to and at the same time weren’t quite the cell shading of the wind waker. Now at first the ever so slightly cartoony feel to the graphics made me weary, but after playing the game for a while I started to realise that they gave the game its own unique charm, like it had looked at the big high def games of the Xbox and PS3 and thought ‘you know what? No. I’m not gonna compete with them. Instead I’m gonna do what Nintendo does best. I’m gonna make you fall in love with me in a way that means once you’ve got bored of you Call of Duty and your Battlefield, you’ll come back to me and you’ll love me all the same.’ Now if you are looking for a Zelda game that will compete with the quality of the of the HD consoles then you have two choices. One, go play Twilight Princess or two, wait for the legendary Wii U and the beautiful Zelda that will be coming with it (hopefully). 

Now as for ratings I give Skyward Sword 9/10 my only real problems with the game were the fact that Fi obviously thinks we are all total morons, and that the final boss left me wishing for so much more. But it did manage the incredible feat of keeping me away from Skyrim for a full 2 weeks which is no easy feat (just ask any of my four characters) and it’s the kind of game I will happily go back to weeks, months even years later and love it just as much as ever. The legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is most defiantly a game the series and the fans can be proud of.  

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

You may have seen it all over Twitter and plastered across the internet. It's no lie - Black Ops 2 is a reality and due for release November 13th 2012. We're buzzing over here and want to bring you a few recently discovered pieces of information. If I could do this as a live blog, I would. Instead, I'm planning on staying up until all the information is released and writing this as the news reaches me. Black Ops 2 is due to be announced tonight and we cannot wait to hear all the details for the next CoD game. MW3 was spectacular and we hope this one will live up to its expectations.

Set in 2025, there's a new problem facing humankind - a lack of rare earth elements. It's no longer about the energy crisis, this is far more important. Rare earth minerals power many of our everyday products, from phones to military equipment. In BO 2, China is refusing to trade anymore elements with the USA and the rest of the world, following an attack on the Chinese stock market. This starts a new cold war between China and the USA, with Russia attempting to provoke both side into full-out war - sneaky.

The game will start in the 1980's as a build up to the current situations. During the 1980's period you'll play as Alex Mason (you may remember him from the previous BO game). In this part of the game there is also the opportunity to ride horses during one of the missions (as suggested by the trailer (see below)) - which looks great. A lot of fans are excited about this particular feature. However, once you reach 2025 his son, David Mason, will take over and you'll be saving the world with him. Now, in 2025 military weaponry is pretty advanced and uses drones, autopilot planes and all that kind of futuristic-Terminator-stuff. When you first see these it'll be in Los Angeles as it is called for evacuation. Basically, the whole intro is filled with bombs, guns and a whole load of robot machinery. The robot machinery is seriously cool. Just take a look at C.L.A.W who looks a lot like a horse. But that's just the intro, what the game is actually like, no one yet knows, but if this fantastic introduction is anything to go by then it's going to be fantastic. For those of you who liked covert missions in BO, don't worry - there will be loads of those.

Here's the most exciting part - your decisions on the game WILL impact the story. The death and survival of your group in missions will have a massive effect on the story. You have the choice to go it alone or control an entire team of soldiers. This looks more than a little exciting. Think of how different this game will be now that you can choose how the story ends - will Menendez succeed or fail?

When it comes to multi-player there isn't much that we know except that it will be filled with zombies, burning buildings and a lot of shooting.

Check out the trailer here, it looks amazing.

November 13th is on its way and the excitement is rising. Are you looking forward to Black Ops 2?