Hyper 197 Feedback Thread

[Darren]

Have you heard the one about the Australian, the German, the American and the... umm... Dubian? Hyper 197 has the answer.

As you can see from the cover, we take an Australian-exclusive first look at Spec Ops: The Line, as Dan Staines heads to the game's German studios to check out this upcoming military shooter featuring American soldiers heading into the world's newest playground of Dubai. Then, before the poor guy's had enough time to change his watch, we put him on another plane -- this time to Japan, where he visits Square Enix HQ to see what Final Fantasy XIII is up to. We get jet-lag, you get the first-hand looks. (At the games, not at Dan's jet-lag.)

Moving on, there's plenty of feature meat to be found. We look back at what made the Noughties such an important one for gaming, examine what lead to the downfall once-proud Australian games distributor Red Ant, round up the Hyper team's Game of the Year, and help you take your first (or next) step into games development with our university guide.

But there's reviews! Tatsunoko vs Capcom strolls in to become the new office Street Fighter IV, while boats are exchanged for trains in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. We also check out the likes of Disgaea 2 and Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll.

Previews, Q&As, barrels, rants, and something that's described as "slightly fruity, slightly tangy, and really sugary." It's all in Hyper 197, on sale from Wednesday, February 3!

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/8876/hyper1972.jpg

[BB2K]

When did Darren get his name changed from ChaoticJack? I completly missed it >_>

[Jickle]

I for one was shocked when I discovered that Jack and Darren were the same person, even though it was actually revealed in his very first post. [/labouredfilmreference]

[concrete donkey]

$19.95 this issue?

[Watchers]

So you guys ditched the other two opinion pieces (and presumably other content) in favour of the exact same Games.edu piece that's in this month's PCPP? Great. I didn't want to read it there, and I don't want to read it here, and surely this has been covered ad nauseum by now? I'm positive I've seen quite a few articles in Hyper over the past couple of years about getting into the games industry....

Seems like a waste of space to me.

[Stiz]

Well, I dunno about any other opinion pieces, but mine was put on temporary hiatus while I was busy trying not to die from jetlag.

[Lazlow]

Heh, such a hard life :p

And tbh, I don't recall Hyper running any "get into the industry" pieces before... I remember one in an issue of EDGE nearly a year ago.

[Ryan Hayward]

So you guys ditched the other two opinion pieces (and presumably other content) in favour of the exact same Games.edu piece that's in this month's PCPP? Great. I didn't want to read it there, and I don't want to read it here, and surely this has been covered ad nauseum by now? I'm positive I've seen quite a few articles in Hyper over the past couple of years about getting into the games industry....

Seems like a waste of space to me.

I agree, There's enough of this shit in EDGE magazine. Come on guys, we read Hyper to be entertained. How many of us actually want to become game developers in Australia, the arse capital for game development in the gaming world.

EDGE will never have a Region Specific special on Australia and for good reason.

[Lazlow]

The EDGE article shouldn't factor in to any argument due to being largely irrelevant as they cover UK institutions.

[lex3191]

im also over the get into the gaming industry bits, but i have my own personal beefs with it, as i was in the industry, now im not. Personally i think the aussie game industry is not in the best shape anyway. wanna work 8-10 hours a day on mary-kate and ashley olsen horse riding game or the latest ps2 port of some crap movie, join the aussie game industry. anyway i am jaded.

[REQUIEM]

So you guys ditched the other two opinion pieces (and presumably other content) in favour of the exact same Games.edu piece that's in this month's PCPP? Great. I didn't want to read it there, and I don't want to read it here, and surely this has been covered ad nauseum by now? I'm positive I've seen quite a few articles in Hyper over the past couple of years about getting into the games industry....

Seems like a waste of space to me.

You are so NEGATIVE as of late. Stop getting so bitchy its become predictable watch. Man up abit. (I know thats hard but try)

[Ryan Hayward]

The EDGE article shouldn't factor in to any argument due to being largely irrelevant as they cover UK institutions.

Nope, they cover the industry worldwide with their region specific education specials. Everywhere from Singapore, Canada, Europe etc etc. Not Australia though, we arn't worthy.

[lex3191]

Nope, they cover the industry worldwide with their region specific education specials. Everywhere from Singapore, Canada, Europe etc etc. Not Australia though, we arn't worthy.

man i found those sections so painfully boring. i was glad that this months edge didnt feature any. the only one i liked was iceland. cause i would love to go to iceland one day

[Ryan Hayward]

Same here, also they were just like aussies in terms of character. Not up themselves.

[aubergine]

I would think iPhone development would be accesible to small developers with good ideas.

[Ryan Hayward]

Yes, but the competition is fierce and the likes of EA and Atari are invading it quickly and are established names. Best of luck spending a small fortune making a game and hope you can make $$$ out of it, being one of about fifty thousand other hopefuls...

[Lazlow]

Firemint (http://firemint.com/) and Spinfast (http://www.spinfast.com.au/) are doing quite well.

Spinfast are in fact advertising two programmer positions now

I also don't feel a lot of the big names are giving the iPhone much respect, with a few of their efforts being half arsed at best.

Plus the fact Revolution can make the same money off an iPhone sale to that of a Wii/DS sale would indicate its more financially rewarding.

[Ryan Hayward]

The thing about iphone though is that its remakes of classic games that are doing the best business. Most people are downloading what they already know and love, such as the awesome Battlezone remake and sporting games that appeal to them. Remakes open possible legal action though as these remakes are often not re imaginings but copying existing games with just better eyecandy being the differences.
Retro Gamer did a feature on the iphone about 8 months ago. So far most of the copyright owners have ignored the remakes but I'm willing to best the likes of atari and activision are not too happy about it, seeing that they could be releasing their own updates and making money out of them.

Original games are seen as too risky, even on the iphone due to the thousands of games already flooding it. So many great games have not sold well at all on it. Its a bit like how Psychonauts , Beyond Good & Evil & Mad World did not sell well on consoles. Anything brilliantly original and fresh is often ignored by those brainwashed by sequels and generic existing gameplay that has been done to death. Its sad but its not a great era to be a videogame developer with an imaginative mind.

[Watchers]

Well, I dunno about any other opinion pieces, but mine was put on temporary hiatus while I was busy trying not to die from jetlag.

So, did you end up dying?


And tbh, I don't recall Hyper running any "get into the industry" pieces before... I remember one in an issue of EDGE nearly a year ago.

Definitely have (though I may be getting the amount confused due to reading PCPP as well). They always seem to cover exactly the same stuff too - "A degree is good, but not necessary. Experience/modding is useful. Artists need a good portfolio. Here's a list of tertiary institutions that could easily be googled and very brief interviews with developers."

[Mr.Mew]

The cover of this issue is boss. It's like it says, "I own the room... I own you,"

Looking forwards to reading about this Spec Ops title, haven't heard of it before.

[aubergine]

The thing about iphone though is that its remakes of classic games that are doing the best business. Most people are downloading what they already know and love, such as the awesome Battlezone remake and sporting games that appeal to them. Remakes open possible legal action though as these remakes are often not re imaginings but copying existing games with just better eyecandy being the differences.
Retro Gamer did a feature on the iphone about 8 months ago. So far most of the copyright owners have ignored the remakes but I'm willing to best the likes of atari and activision are not too happy about it, seeing that they could be releasing their own updates and making money out of them.

Original games are seen as too risky, even on the iphone due to the thousands of games already flooding it. So many great games have not sold well at all on it. Its a bit like how Psychonauts , Beyond Good & Evil & Mad World did not sell well on consoles. Anything brilliantly original and fresh is often ignored by those brainwashed by sequels and generic existing gameplay that has been done to death. Its sad but its not a great era to be a videogame developer with an imaginative mind.

That's wholly a marketing issue, and will face the entire industry if they go download-only. How do you market games to most people without a shop? In a magazine they bought in a shop? What you have on iPhone is a thumbnail and a couple of keywords, that's your whole "box art" - nearly every single thing I've bought on iPhone has been word of mouth.

I think that if people make a novel and simple game, which is all I want on the thing (stuff like geodefense and bookworm) the only major hurdle is getting word out there. Beyond Good And Evil got the sales it did based off critical word-of-mouth, but can you imagine trying to otherwise market that game, with that name? Forget it. It's a brilliant game but one totally lacking in marketing hooks. You travel in a hovercraft with a pig and take nature photos while hiding from robots behind crates, or something.

I sold a copy of BGE to a woman once when I worked at Cash Converters. Basically I bullied her into buying it. She said she liked an adventure game like Zelda. I more or less told her to "buy this. do it. do it. buy it." She bought it but she never returned to the shop. Actually, I think she was a Mystery Shopper but anyway, there was no particular way to describe the features and benefits of BGE except that just ****ing buy it.

[TimmyJ]

I meant to say this a few months back,but...forgot? Dunno,but anyway,it's been great to see Dan Staines regularly contributing again in Hyper's pages over the last year or so. Always loved his quirky humour and blatantly honest writing style.

[Australian Ninja]

I for one was shocked when I discovered that Jack and Darren were the same person, even though it was actually revealed in his very first post. [/labouredfilmreference]

I had to pause Darren's post to reveal his true nature in the first few frames. Turns out he's actually a horrible gelatinous blob crossed with a Locoroco. :D

[Darren]

...a horrible gelatinous blob crossed with a Locoroco. :D
http://img.listal.com/image/690322/940full-the-simpsons-screenshot.jpg

[Australian Ninja]

The thing about iphone though is that its remakes of classic games that are doing the best business. Most people are downloading what they already know and love, such as the awesome Battlezone remake and sporting games that appeal to them. Remakes open possible legal action though as these remakes are often not re imaginings but copying existing games with just better eyecandy being the differences.
Retro Gamer did a feature on the iphone about 8 months ago. So far most of the copyright owners have ignored the remakes but I'm willing to best the likes of atari and activision are not too happy about it, seeing that they could be releasing their own updates and making money out of them.

Original games are seen as too risky, even on the iphone due to the thousands of games already flooding it. So many great games have not sold well at all on it. Its a bit like how Psychonauts , Beyond Good & Evil & Mad World did not sell well on consoles. Anything brilliantly original and fresh is often ignored by those brainwashed by sequels and generic existing gameplay that has been done to death. Its sad but its not a great era to be a videogame developer with an imaginative mind.

I agree. The main benefit is for the REAL indy programmers (especially the relics from the 80s) to get good returns per download for relatively small development costs (home based / garage oufit compared to Studios).

I can see the inevitable backlash / legal action from companies once the giants start putting more into the iphone market, and subsequently ordering "cease and desist" on many unofficial retro remakes, then releasing their offiicial (and usually inferior) version for the iphone.

However, apple have been pretty good in encouraging people to actually release games on their phone, and apart from very specific cases of copyright infringement that can not be ruled as "fair use", I'd say a good number of remakes etc will stay on the service.

I'm just guessing here, don't take my opinion as "fact", and feel free to tear it to bits.

[TimmyJ]

Games that defined the decade is a well thought out feature-not just a "best games according to us" feature that I assume lots of other publications would do, but games that left a lasting (and not always positive) impression on the gamers and the industry.
(The old guy in the lifestyle shot playing Wii Sports on page 52 looks like his head is about to explode with orgasmic delight. Thanks Nintendo.)

[aubergine]

http://img.listal.com/image/690322/940full-the-simpsons-screenshot.jpg

WILKS (THINKS):
"I'll lure Darren out from under my tit with this Marshmallow on a stick."

[AranchineD]

Holy shit, it finally happened; Jickle pulled a Bottom Of The Barrel feature on a game I actually liked. 007 RACING WAS AWESOME, DAMN IT!

[Mr.Mew]

Woah...

I brushed the page 4 contents to get the ants off of it. Then felt very stupid.

[Australian Ninja]

Games that defined the decade is a well thought out feature-not just a "best games according to us" feature that I assume lots of other publications would do, but games that left a lasting (and not always positive) impression on the gamers and the industry.
(The old guy in the lifestyle shot playing Wii Sports on page 52 looks like his head is about to explode with orgasmic delight. Thanks Nintendo.)

Yeah I read that piece last night while playing GTA Gay Tony (when there is a cut scene, it's an excuse to read a magazine)

I love that Deus Ex was in there, and as long as hyper mentions it by name at least once a year, forever (along with words suggesting it's the bestest game ever), - I will keep buying the magazine. Nice work Locoroco..... um I mean Darren. Interesting choices, Half Life 2, Sims, Deus Ex and GTA III were a given, but I found the other choices (and reasoning for them) interesting reading.

[Ryan Hayward]

God, I hope the magazine arrives tomorrow for something fun to read during the weekend. I don't want to be stuck reading PC Authority, really shouldn't have bought a sub for that.

[Ninjalada]

I'm glad to see that Arkham Asylum got game of the year. If they had of given it to MW2, I would have died inside.

[/backslash]

God, I hope the magazine arrives tomorrow for something fun to read during the weekend. I don't want to be stuck reading PC Authority, really shouldn't have bought a sub for that.
Ha, seems like a lot of ppl are subscribing to the wrong magazine. I got my latest EDGE sub, read 5 pages, got bored, put it down. Still have like 6 months to go I think :( I bought Hyper today since it was a bit cheaper this time. Shame that 10% of it won't be read (the Games Industry article)

[TimmyJ]

Yeah I read that piece last night while playing GTA Gay Tony (when there is a cut scene, it's an excuse to read a magazine)

I love that Deus Ex was in there, and as long as hyper mentions it by name at least once a year, forever (along with words suggesting it's the bestest game ever), - I will keep buying the magazine. Interesting choices, Half Life 2, Sims, Deus Ex and GTA III were a given, but I found the other choices (and reasoning for them) interesting reading.

Yeah, I thought choices like Kane and Lynch, Vampire:The Masquerade-Bloodlines, Prey..were interesting reads, and hardly the most obvious games that Hyper could've picked to cover in the article. (Though the Kane and Lynch piece wasn't really about the game itself..understandably.)

Just found a typo! Caption on page 76-"I cnan see right up your nose". Awesome. Still not as cool as poopular or thiller though.

Nice work Locoroco..... um I mean Darren.

Every time I see that pic I think..
Titty twister or nipple cripple?

[Hemish71]

Still waiting for mine to show up, slack mail man

[Australian Ninja]

Yeah, I thought choices like Kane and Lynch, Vampire:The Masquerade-Bloodlines, Prey..were interesting reads, and hardly the most obvious games that Hyper could've picked to cover in the article. (Though the Kane and Lynch piece wasn't really about the game itself..understandably.)

Just found a typo! Caption on page 76-"I cnan see right up your nose". Awesome. Still not as cool as poopular or thiller though.



Every time I see that pic I think..
Titty twister or nipple cripple?

I've spotted about 3 typos in the current mag. It's the mini-game I always have time for.
I think it's because I've proof-read a lot of people's writing over the years for various purposes.

[Ryan Hayward]

Still waiting for mine to show up, slack mail man

I agree. My sister in Tasmania of all places got hers on Thursday. No heavenly weekend for me. :(
I think the Australian Post guy down where I live can't even read. We are always getting other people's mail and sometimes at addresses that have no similarities to the name or number at all. We have two big ****ing numbers on the mailbox itself!!

[Australian Ninja]

I agree. My sister in Tasmania of all places got hers on Thursday. No heavenly weekend for me. :(
I think the Australian Post guy down where I live can't even read. We are always getting other people's mail and sometimes at addresses that have no similarities to the name or number at all. We have two big ****ing numbers on the mailbox itself!!

Do they fold the magazine in half and cram it in the box? I always enjoy reading hyper after it's been folded in half and is full of creases. It increases the value.

[Ryan Hayward]

Do they fold the magazine in half and cram it in the box? I always enjoy reading hyper after it's been folded in half and is full of creases. It increases the value.

They used to shove it in the mailbox but now they just throw it on the front lawn so some kid walking home from school can pick it up. :-)

Mind you, they are not as bad as the courier who dumped a parcel full of expensive perfumes on the concrete slabs exposed to the sun on a 43c day, just a metre from my front door that ironically has plenty of shade. Luckily I was home at the time and immediately went out and picked it up. The ground was absolutely scorching!

[Lazlow]

All good reasons why I have a PO Box.

[Australian Ninja]

How much do you pay for your po box? I'm looking at getting one this year, it's about $100 for a standard one for 12 months, and $200 for one that is twice is wide as the normal letter one. Certainly not cheap, it beats rainy day magazines I guess. And I do get subs to several things. Too bad I'm broke right now.

[sausage]

Spend 50 bucks on a new letterbox for the win.

[TimmyJ]

My poor letterbox was brutalised by drunk douchebags a few weeks ago..

[Australian Ninja]

Spend 50 bucks on a new letterbox for the win.

I'd like to, but I live in some crummy flats and the piece of shit fence is barely standing as it is. I'd pretty much have to cut into it, as the current letter boxes sit on top of the rubbish fence. But I'm moving soon, I think the po box will the way to go seeing as I've had a few things go missing in the past (magazines, movies off ebay etc).

Although, I may look at some boxes first to see what kind of size I could get in/on the fence and then add a lock on to.

Anyone got Bob Vila's number? This IS the home improvement help forum right?

[Australian Ninja]

Flicking through the new hyper (berry berry nice issue), enjoyed the features, some good previews, prince of persia eye candy, letters pages, yadda yadda yadda.

But then I flicked back to the POP 2 pages of eye candy. Oh they are porting some old Prince game to something-or-other. No wait, it's a new game, with EMO Prince, from that rather disappointing 2nd game in the trilogy. So what happened to super-happy-shiny cel shaded prince? Is he gone for good, is another game in that series in the works, or must we have emo Prince inflicted upon the world once more?

I loved POP Sands of time, gave up on Warrior Within (because it was shite!) and enjoyed two swords/thrones, whatever it was called with the light/dark prince. I also enjoyed the revamped cel-shaded POP that was fun but a little lacking in depth, and rather short.

[TimmyJ]

Sands of Time is still my favourite, the other ones frustrated me.

[punkgorilla]

But then I flicked back to the POP 2 pages of eye candy. Oh they are porting some old Prince game to something-or-other. No wait, it's a new game, with EMO Prince, from that rather disappointing 2nd game in the trilogy. So what happened to super-happy-shiny cel shaded prince? Is he gone for good, is another game in that series in the works, or must we have emo Prince inflicted upon the world once more?

I'm assuming they've gone back to emo prince in order to tie in to the Sands of Time movie that should be out around the same time.

[Ryan Hayward]

Sands of Time is still my favourite, the other ones frustrated me.

Same here. I went off the series when it went all generically angst. God, almost every single game released today has the main character as some antihero type, complete with black past and mental problems. Bring back "black and white" good and bad

[TimmyJ]

Yeah, in Sands I thought it was actually nice to play as such a ponce,mainly because it makes a change from the impossibly cool/angst filled emo templates that you often get in games.

[Lazlow]

The Red Ant article made for fascinating reading, definitely one of the more interesting articles I've seen in Hyper for a while.

[Frostillicus]

An ok issue. There wasn't anything in particular that jumped out which made me feel like i needed to buy it.

I don't know what the situation is with your budgets etc, but what are the chances of CDs bundles returning to the magazine in the future? I don't mean game demos and movies (as everyone has access to those these days), but i was thinking more like content similar to the Freeware games cd you fellas did some time back (the Crazy Cross one).

Also, are Next still planning on developing Hyper as a website (like IGN/Kotaku)? I think Next really should have jumped on that years ago.

They always seem to cover exactly the same stuff too - "A degree is good, but not necessary. Experience/modding is useful. Artists need a good portfolio. Here's a list of tertiary institutions that could easily be googled and very brief interviews with developers."

you mean this (http://i47.tinypic.com/11taq34.jpg)?

Was printed back in feb 2007. A good article by Christopher Taylor.

I don't think theres anyhting wrong with writing another one of these article features. As long as the content is updated, and the information is useful. The games industry is changing. There are many new courses available and smaller companies starting up. Because of the Iphone, there is a lot more demand for 2d artists and designers.

Maybe Hyper can do a research feature on how secure jobs are in the industry? I know theres a huge problem where people are loosing jobs because companies are off-shoring much of the work to artists countries where they work almost for 1/10 of the costs.

Theres a freebie ;)

[aubergine]

There was talk a while back about an exciting update to the website but it never eventuated. While foreigners see synergies between net and print, Australians just see double-handling and more work, so it's unlikely to happen before Hyper is absorbed into the metaglobal Borg collective.

[punkgorilla]

Maybe Hyper can do a research feature on how secure jobs are in the industry? I know theres a huge problem where people are loosing jobs because companies are off-shoring much of the work to artists countries where they work almost for 1/10 of the costs.

I'd also like to see something like this. A kind of 'state of the industry' feature or something.

[Australian Ninja]

I'm assuming they've gone back to emo prince in order to tie in to the Sands of Time movie that should be out around the same time.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a88/Jonny9999/facepalm.jpg

I was flicking through the mag again while messing around on fallout 3, and I realised exactly that. I was like "whoa, weren't they making a movie", I just assumed the movie got canned, and the lack of the "prince of persia: The game of the movie of the game of the second one everybody hates" did nothing to clue me in.

I'd rather see a dandy Jake Gyllenhaal Prince than whiny emo Prince, but I guess that doesn't sell.

[Australian Ninja]

An ok issue. There wasn't anything in particular that jumped out which made me feel like i needed to buy it.

I don't know what the situation is with your budgets etc, but what are the chances of CDs bundles returning to the magazine in the future? I don't mean game demos and movies (as everyone has access to those these days), but i was thinking more like content similar to the Freeware games cd you fellas did some time back (the Crazy Cross one).

Theres a freebie ;)

Um, you want money to be spent on a CD full of free games that you can download from the internet? I'd like that too (I still have the old CD), but I'd rather see the hyper crew working on the mag and not wasting time and effort on free CDs/DVD (unless some sponsor gives them to them) and Blogs or whatever.

As Wilks has said (more or less and correctly me if I'm wrong) in the past, any money/time/effort on CDs, websites, hyper related stuff other than the mag is less time in the already hectic monthly schedule to produce the magazine.

I'm pretty sure they blew the budget way out with those free sockos, so that's probably why the price has gone up to One Mirrion dollars per issue.

[aubergine]

I'd withhold judgement on the movie and game for now, there's the potential to be
surprised by it.

[Australian Ninja]

I'd withhold judgement on the movie and game for now, there's the potential to be
surprised by it.

Oh I love UBI, I just don't like the setting (warrior within) for this game, but that's the movie IP so what are you gonna do. I'm actually rather excited by it.

*On an unrelated note, who/where/how do I email to check when my sub runs out?
I know that hyper is on that mymagazines site with a billion other mags, but is there a specific email for the hyper sub to check when it expires?

[Daniel]

Oh I love UBI, I just don't like the setting (warrior within) for this game, but that's the movie IP so what are you gonna do. I'm actually rather excited by it.


The movie isn't Warrior Within, it's Sands of Time, and the new game isn't the game of the film. The film is being produced independent from Ubisoft, with Jordan Mechner working with Disney rather than Ubisoft.

The reason they went back to old Prince was because sales of new Prince didn't stack up against those of the old one. As far as I understand it's the start of a new story arc, so time manipulation may not be the key gimmick this time around.

[AranchineD]

Well, crap. I was hoping they just going to do the movie-game, then continue on with the reboot series. shitsux

[Jickle]

I'm pretty sure The Forgotten Sands will be about putting on pairs of shoes and then realising you forgot to empty out all the sand that's still in them from the last time you went to the beach.

I don't think the last Prince of Persia sold excessively poorly - I think it was behind Sands of Time/Warrior Within but ahead of The Two Thrones, perhaps? I'd like another one, the first wasn't exactly amazing but I enjoyed the story.

[Daniel]

It sold well, but not a patch on Sands of Time. I loved the new Prince, but the masses have spoken.

[Equinox]

Liked the feature on FFXIII even though I have barely played any of the games, also, I found the little conversation/argument between whoever wrote the piece on Bioshock 2 and editor man rather funny. I might be reading too much into it but to me it seems to show that there is actually human beings involved in the magazine and not just slightly malicious computers that just print it out in their slow attempt to indoctrinate us all... what was I talking about again?

[RunningMild]

I just assumed the movie got canned

It can't be canned because my local cinema has put up posters for it. :p

And yeah, the film appears to be more Sands Of Time than Warrior Within. I watched the trailer for it a couple of months ago.

On another note, I haven't received this issue in the mail yet. Is it possible my renewal form got lost in the mail? Is there a way to check if I have an active subscription or not (so I don't accidentally double-order)?

[ireadtabloids]

I demand to know when and where I can buy tickets to Final Fantasy Presents: Oklahoma.

[Mr.Mew]

And yeah, the film appears to be more Sands Of Time than Warrior Within. I watched the trailer for it a couple of months ago.

It's apparently a combination of all three of the Sands of Time trilogy. Dahaka, crazy Sear-whats-his-face n'all.

[RunningMild]

It's apparently a combination of all three of the Sands of Time trilogy. Dahaka, crazy Sear-whats-his-face n'all.

Don't forget Daggertails! :p

But definitely looking to be an upbeat and funny film, not all angsty and emocore like Warrior Within.

[Australian Ninja]

The movie isn't Warrior Within, it's Sands of Time, and the new game isn't the game of the film. The film is being produced independent from Ubisoft, with Jordan Mechner working with Disney rather than Ubisoft.

The reason they went back to old Prince was because sales of new Prince didn't stack up against those of the old one. As far as I understand it's the start of a new story arc, so time manipulation may not be the key gimmick this time around.

Double face-palm for me. The words I should have used are: art design/ costume design. In the pics he's wearing the brooding emo prince who loves knives costume. (the pics for Gyllenhaal in the film and also the screens for the new game)

The costume itself does not bother me, it's that it always reminds me of Warrior Within - which I REALLY tried to like and played a good few hours of - until giving up in absolute frustration, and swearing a whole lot at the TV.

Stupid, stupid level design imo. In contrast I could not put down Sands, Two Thrones or cel-POP from start to finish.

[TimmyJ]

I'm pretty sure The Forgotten Sands will be about putting on pairs of shoes and then realising you forgot to empty out all the sand that's still in them from the last time you went to the beach.


Lol. And emo prince guy gets really mad and goes on a murderous rampage swearing incoherently at random stuff until his head explodes. That, I would like to see. Actually just realised I haven't played the 360/PS3 POP that came out in 08. I seem to remember the reviews being pretty positive..really should get to playing that one lol.

Sands of Time was the only one last generation that I had the patience for really, even though I did finish WW,and I liked the story in Sands. So hopefully the movie doesn't suck balls (as I suspect it will)

[RunningMild]

Holy shit, it finally happened; Jickle pulled a Bottom Of The Barrel feature on a game I actually liked. 007 RACING WAS AWESOME, DAMN IT!

And so was James Bond 007 on Game Boy! What happened Jickle? You used to be cool. :(

Also, lol @ most freelancers not having a PS3. I suppose it's hard to take out a second mortgage on your cardboard box during a recession... :p

[Jickle]

James Bond 007 was far from the worst game I've ever played, but in terms of a James Bond experience, it was terrible. Plus it hasn't aged well, and some of the puzzles/design choices are just stupid.

As for 007 Racing...no Aran, it was never good. :p

[Ryan Hayward]

You guys remember 007 : Everything or Nothing?
Now that was a damn good bond game!

[RunningMild]

James Bond 007 was far from the worst game I've ever played, but in terms of a James Bond experience, it was terrible. Plus it hasn't aged well, and some of the puzzles/design choices are just stupid.

Yeah, it's probably aged terribly, but for a youngster who'd never played an RPG in his life (and already knew where all the stupidly obscure items were thanks to NMS giving everything away) it was a pretty amazing game for it's time. :p

[Hemish71]

My copy still hasnt shown up, wonder if the postman has nicked it??!!

[Spazzola]

Finally got around to reading this months edition. I haven't bothered to read the other posts in this thread, so I'm probably just echoing what's already been said.

An interesting issue, as per usual. The '1-on-1 with the Board' was an interesting piece, it's good to see something regarding the board other than the banhammer and Atkinson blowing off more wind. Also, I'm glad Zahid had the balls to admit he wasn't much of a gamer/not very good at gaming, especially since there are people who'd probably captialise that and say 'Oh look, another board member who is crap. Why is he not old?" etc, etc.

The articles '20 Games That Defined The Decade' and 'The Fall Of Red Ant' were interesting reads. I particularly enjoyed the Red Ant one since it kept me hooked - I didn't put it down until I had finished reading the whole thing. I don't really follow stories about developers, producers and distributors, but this one certainly sparked interest in me. Good job Tracey.

Lastly, it's good to see an advice/info section for people wanting to get into the industry. I know people usually get shitty when they see one of these, but I like it since it gives potentially new readers information that they may not have know about. Plus the scene is constantly changing, so it keeps those who are passively interested up to date. I will admit though, I only skimmmed over it - my personal taste in professions lies elsewhere.

[Cake]

Thanks Spazzola. :)

[RunningMild]

I'm really looking forward to next month's GOTY awards, and seeing if Scribblenauts managed to claim best DS game AND biggest disappointment. :p

BTW Cake, loved that little poem you wrote for Brutal Legend. ;)

[Australian Ninja]

And so was James Bond 007 on Game Boy! What happened Jickle? You used to be cool. :(

Also, lol @ most freelancers not having a PS3. I suppose it's hard to take out a second mortgage on your cardboard box during a recession... :p

I had to laugh at that bit too. Heck, I didn't work for a good 6 weeks (holiday in Dec/Jan) and I still managed to buy a PS3 online, but it was going for $350 (thanks to the link I found at the hyper forums).

But I know the pain of not being able to afford consoles. I simply refused to buy the PS3 until I could get it for under $500 - but then I do that with all new machines because I usually have no money.

[TimmyJ]

I also know that feeling all too well :(

[RunningMild]

I just saw something pretty unbelievable in the letters section.

Bah! I have a complaint!
In the 'Top 5 Game Franchises That Deserve A Comeback' article, page 91, in the bit about Jet Grind Radio, you say: "Then there's the games centreal them of antiestablishmentarianism ("Achievement Unlocked: Longest Word in Hyper!"). "
It's called a trophy, you numbnuts.

I can't believe I didn't see it the first time. More proof that PS3 fanboys are the dumbest people on Earth.

[punkgorilla]

I like how they were so annoyed about it that they signed up just to make that post.

[RunningMild]

I like how they were so annoyed about it that they signed up just to make that post.

lol yeah. HOW DARE YOU DON'T ACCEPT SONY AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR! HOW DARE YOU DON'T ACT LIKE THEY INVENTED EVERYTHING EVEN IF IT WAS RIPPED OFF SOMEONE ELSE! THIS DISPLAY OF LOGIC IS OFFENSIVE TO ME! :rolleyes:

[Watchers]

Pretty sure it was just a joke comment.

[RunningMild]

Pretty sure it was just a joke comment.

I hope for his sake that it was. :p

[Ryan Hayward]

This month's issue is bloody brilliant! All the features are top-notch, especially Dan Staine's fantastic preview of Spec Ops and the games that defined a decade is awesome stuff as is the red ant article. Fantastic writing and very fun to read, I forgive you for the last 10 pages....

[lex3191]

just finished the issue, great read as usual. While reading the 'getting into games' article written by Timothy C Best i started to get a funny sense of deja vu, i felt like i had read it all before, even the pictures began to feel familiar. So I flicked through an old copy of PC Powerplay Jan 2010 and sure enough there it was word for word, picture for picture, the exact same article. whats with the reprint of an old article from another magazine?

[Daniel]

Was written for both mags. It's not like it was an ancient article - there was a lag of about 2 weeks in onsales.

[Hemish71]

Gonna be annoyed if mine doesnt show up tomorrow

[Will Eat Brains]

Why, oh why does the answer to the 'random question' during registration on the forums, have to be so boring?
If I'm asked ..."what is the longest button on my my keyboard?"... I should be allowed, nay, encouraged to answer; "the My Junk button?", and to finish off with a well placed Giggity! for extra credit...:p

[Australian Ninja]

I just saw something pretty unbelievable in the letters section.



I can't believe I didn't see it the first time. More proof that PS3 fanboys are the dumbest people on Earth.

Yeah that was the most random dumb comment of the month imo.
I mean does that person not know what an xbox 360 is?

[RunningMild]

Oh dear, I just read an IGN preview for that new PoP game and it is set between Sands of Time and Warrior Within. Looks like Aus Ninja's scepticism was warranted. :(

[grimace06]

Oh dear, I just read an IGN preview for that new PoP game and it is set between Sands of Time and Warrior Within. Looks like Aus Ninja's scepticism was warranted. :(

Oh so we'll find out how the Prince discovered Nu Metal then.

[Ryan Hayward]

Oh dear, I just read an IGN preview for that new PoP game and it is set between Sands of Time and Warrior Within. Looks like Aus Ninja's scepticism was warranted. :(

As long as its more Sands of Time than WW, I don't think we have cause to be skeptical at all. Judging from the artwork, I've gotta feeling its gonna be more thoughtful than brutal...

[RunningMild]

As long as its more Sands of Time than WW, I don't think we have cause to be skeptical at all. Judging from the artwork, I've gotta feeling its gonna be more thoughtful than brutal...

Pretty sure IGN's preview said it was combat-oriented. :(

[Australian Ninja]

Pretty sure IGN's preview said it was combat-oriented. :(

As long as the prince gets an electric guitar of some sort to wail on the minions of undead with (er ah, I mean sand monsters) I'll be happy. Well, as long as he doesn't release a concept album under the moniker "Formerly known as Warrior Within"

[RunningMild]

As long as the prince gets an electric guitar of some sort to wail on the minions of undead with (er ah, I mean sand monsters) I'll be happy.

You mean like this?

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5738/nevanxy2.jpg

:p

[Australian Ninja]

You mean like this?

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5738/nevanxy2.jpg

:p

Exactly like that. If you're gonna have an emo Prince at least give him an electric guitar, 10 x more attitude, and rastify him 20%.

[McChimp]

Oh so we'll find out how the Prince discovered Nu Metal then.

Nah, to do this game real justice they need Tim Schafer at the helm. Seriously, hair-metal PoP!

[Australian Ninja]

Nah, to do this game real justice they need Tim Schafer at the helm. Seriously, hair-metal PoP!

Count my vote for that one. Now you just need to start a petition.

[RunningMild]

DOUBLE FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIINE!!!

allcaps

[Ryan Hayward]

I would really like to know how a videogame like Left For Dead 2 was censored while the uncut dvd release of Saw 6 which had some of the most disturbing torture scenes of all time made it through with an MA classification. The mind really boggles sometimes.....

[RunningMild]

I would really like to know how a videogame like Left For Dead 2 was censored while the uncut dvd release of Saw 6 which had some of the most disturbing torture scenes of all time made it through with an MA classification. The mind really boggles sometimes.....

Because the classification board still has this crazy idea that interactive violence is more harmful than non-interactive violence.

[Frostillicus]

I would really like to know how a videogame like Left For Dead 2 was censored while the uncut dvd release of Saw 6 which had some of the most disturbing torture scenes of all time made it through with an MA classification. The mind really boggles sometimes.....

because the OFLC (or whatever they are called now) got tired of the Saw movies at 3, and didn't bother watching the film.
Or perhaps becuase there is a HUGE difference between watching a film with voilence, and playing a game which simulates the acts of violence.

[sausage]

Or because no-one has proved that interaction in games is bad for you and that the whole damn house of cards that is the Australian Classification system is a big, fat, anti-freedom SHAM and should be burned to the ground with Atkinson in it.

[Australian Ninja]

because the OFLC (or whatever they are called now) got tired of the Saw movies at 3, and didn't bother watching the film.
Or perhaps becuase there is a HUGE difference between watching a film with voilence, and playing a game which simulates the acts of violence.

Yep, it's more fun.

[RunningMild]

Or perhaps becuase there is a HUGE difference between watching a film with voilence, and playing a game which simulates the acts of violence.

Yeah, huge difference... unless you pay attention to all that lovely scientific research which suggests and sometimes demonstrates that there is no difference whatsoever.

Though knowing Atkinson I suspect any science that disagrees with him is instantly dismissed as the devil.

[Ryan Hayward]

I had to laugh at Hyper's report of how R-rated new release movies are banned from public display in Adelaide. They have to be moved to the porn seedy section where the vile guy who has been there since 1995 has his hand glued to his dick looking at the back of the covers.....
Never mind the fact that MA's Saw 6's cover is far more disturbing than most R-rated horror film covers....

[aubergine]

As has been said, Fight Club. It's a bar of soap.

[V²]

bar of soap.
What happens in prison(which is wear all the characters in fight club belong) when you drop the soap?
S0 obviously the cover to Fight Club is an allegory of homosexual sodomy

[RunningMild]

Remember the story in the book about how soap was discovered? That's some violent, disturbing shit that shouldn't be referenced in plain sight!

Also (in the book and film), they use the soap making process to make explosives, so showing a bar of soap on the cover is advocating and glorifying terrorism. They may as well have a screencap from that stage in MW2...

[Australian Ninja]

I am Jack's instinct for terror and mayhem.

[REQUIEM]

What happened to " YOU DONT TALK ABOUT FIGHT CLUB ".

[Ryan Hayward]

Edge magazine has just given Final Fantasy 13 a 5 out of 10 :-)
You guys agree with that?

[REQUIEM]

Edge magazine has just given Final Fantasy 13 a 5 out of 10 :-)
You guys agree with that?

I have played it for 9 hours and I would give it a 6.5 maybe 7. Its more flash than substance IMO. I must admit I havent been a great FF fan since the SNES versions.

[Spazzola]

Edge magazine has just given Final Fantasy 13 a 5 out of 10 :-)
You guys agree with that?

I'm a FF fan, so I'm biased, but I'd personally give the game an 8. 7 at times (esp since it takes approx 20hrs to open up, and then it just goes linear again). Unless they justified the 5 as "fans of FF or JRPGs may love this game, while people who don't frequent the genre/series or those who remember the older titles may be rather disenchanted with the experience". If they said something like that, then the 5 is put into context. But then it still stands that people who only use the quantitative data will judge without considering the above.

Eh, the rating doesn't really matter anyway. Square will just redo the formula again for the next installment in the series, pissing off another group of fans.

[RunningMild]

Edge magazine has just given Final Fantasy 13 a 5 out of 10 :-)
You guys agree with that?

Wouldn't this be better in the issue 198 Feedback thread, aka. the latest one and also the one where FFXIII is actually being discussed?

[Ryan Hayward]

Nope because Darren mentioned in this thread just a few pages down that he is planning a 4 page review for FF13. Just wanted to see if he'd respond to Edge's high criticism of the game.

[punkgorilla]

Nope because Darren mentioned in this thread just a few pages down that he is planning a 4 page review for FF13. Just wanted to see if he'd respond to Edge's high criticism of the game.

Actually, Darren made that comment in the Issue 198 thread (http://www.hyper.com.au/forums/showpost.php?p=1187725&postcount=76) - seeing as issue 198 is the latest.

[Ryan Hayward]

Oh crap, sorry about that.

[RunningMild]

Actually, Darren made that comment in the Issue 198 thread (http://www.hyper.com.au/forums/showpost.php?p=1187725&postcount=76) - seeing as issue 198 is the latest.

As I was saying... :p