You may (or may not) recall my preview of God of War 3. The code was very early code and I managed to get a little bit of a play with it when I attended a Sony night last year to preview a few of their games. I loved what I saw of it then.

So I’ve been asked to put together 12 questions about God of War 3 for the magazine. I used to love doing interviews with game developers. I used to actually get excited about it. Now it’s like ‘Oh my god, what should I ask them that hasn’t been asked a dozen times before?’ You really don’t want to sound like a broken record. I mean, it’s not like you’re going to be the only journalist interviewing these people and being a New Zealand magazine, we’re probably the last to be considered since we are so small. It’s just a fact.

Annnnyway, I had to nut it out and it took about 20 minutes to come up with the questions. Once the interview is done, I’ll post it here – just caus I can but also because since Gamefreaks is printed, you won’t get to read it unless you buy it (which you prolly should anyway since it’s only 4 bucks!)

I really am looking forward to it though, it’s going to rock!

Format: PS3

Release version: Review code (non-retail release)

Distributor: EA New Zealand

Developer: EA Montreal

I have a huge and I mean huge review guide which is literally 47 pages long with tips and guides for reviewing this code for the sequel to Army of 2. And I am trying (no, make that struggling) to remember whether or not I was allowed to even post about this… oops.

Anyway, I’m going to only because I have a crapload of things to catch up on since I redesigned this website and if I don’t start getting through this material now, I’m going to lose my opportunity to stay on top of it. Ugh.

Boy, do those masks look cool!

Ok so sue me for really liking the masks. When I played Ao2 I actually went out of my way to try and collect the masks lol. I just can’t help collecting things  in games – nevermind about the ammo or the weapons (OK, I actually did do my best to upgrade my weapons too – I’m not that much of a nub!)

Army of 2 40th Day features Rios and Salem from the previous game doing what they do best which is pretty much just kicking ass and taking numbers. The tactical game mechanics present in the original game are emphasised alot more in this so you’ll be doing a whole lot of rescuing your downed buddy, dodging a deluge of bullets and watching your aggro meters all over again.

What’s new in Army of 2 40th Day?

Ao2 40th Day really does feel a whole lot like the original. I can’t say that’s a bad thing because I did enjoy Ao2 but as far as being a different game is concerned, nope, it’s not. It really is a very similar gamestyle to the previous game except with more weapons, different enemies (as you’re fighting in China) with a few different strategems added to spice up gameplay.

Decisions, decisions

The decision making process is also emphasised alot more in the sequel, putting you and your partner in really compromising positions mostly with the outcome of dying if you do the wrong thing. So whilst that’s pretty disheartening, in the long run, you can always shoot the crap outta everyone and be done with it, right?

Army of 2 40th Day releases in New Zealand on the 15th of January, 2010.

Distributor: Sony Brand: Logitech Hardware: Gaming Headset Model: G35 Price RRP: $182.00 (price may vary depending on store).

[starreview tpl=16]

This is our first product review at Game Culture and hopefully the first in a long line of gaming products we’ll be reviewing for real gamers. The issue so many gamers have is that the market is permanently saturated with so many different products, it’s next to impossible to decide what is best to buy for your gaming needs. I’ve reviewed dozens of different gaming peripherals in the past, and most products if not all will come with their pros and their cons.

If you’re a hardcore gamer, you’ll be looking for a couple of things that pretty much become non-negotiable. You’ll want comfort  for those marathon gaming sessions, you’ll want durability (throwing gaming peripherals around the room sometimes does happen, oh yes), you’ll want performace and you’ll want value for money. Some of these aspects are interchangeable. Some are not.

The Logitech G35 Headset has many pros, very few cons. After spending several hours using this headset on my PC, I’ve come to the conclusion that despite it’s heavy-looking appearance, it felt very comfortable to wear. Although, you might not consider wearing this headset for more than a few hours at a time (which is really the only major draw-back).

The sound quality is great but the USB sound controls could be something you’d want to consider well before purchasing. Although the headset boasts 7.1 surr0und sound ability, the USB panel may negate your epic piece of sound card hardware as a matter of design. The cool thing about the the Logitech G35 (at least for me) was the ability to morph your voice. The software you receive with the headset enables a voice morphing capability that can alter the sound of your voice through the mic – it’s gimmicky but hella fun and very handy for those female gamers who may feel like altering their voice online (try it out in vent, it’s very funny).

There are also three customisable buttons (the G1, G2 and G2 buttons respectively) that allow you to map software applications so you can launch the app from your headset. This is exceptionally handy for launching VoIP software such as Ventrilo (which comes automatically preset).

The G35 is pretty sturdy in design and extremely flexible with three adjustable head bands. Special care has been taken to mute out all excess background noise with noise cancellation as well as extra padding around the ears for both comfort and sound reduction.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking for a headset that is built for PC gaming, the G35 gets a tick on almost every level. Perhaps not the right headset for home theatre or audio/music specialists who love their music and movie watching but perfect for the gamer looking for a headset that (literally) does it all.

The beta for Battlefield Bad Company 2 will be available for PS3 users on November the 19th, 2009. More details follow from the official EA press release:

DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc studio announced the upcoming Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer beta exclusively on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. Starting November 19, PlayStation 3 gamers will be able to experience the unprecedented action, destruction, vehicular warfare, squad play and open sandbox environments that only Battlefield can deliver. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 provides a true all-out war experience like no other modern warfare game. Beta keys will be available in New Zealand by pre-ordering the game from participating retailers.

The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer beta will feature the Arica Harbour map, where up to 24 players can compete in one of the game’s four intense multiplayer modes called Rush. This new map displays a superb balance of vehicle and infantry combat, as the American assault unit attacks the Russian army base with full force, advancing further through a beautiful desert town and towards the industrial area in a desperate attempt to overtake the Arica Harbour. Heavy vehicle warfare on the first bases gradually turns into an intense infantry fight as the level progresses, showcasing this best-in-class online war experience.

In December 2009, DICE will invite players to participate in a PC open beta. Then, early next year, all players worldwide will get to experience this premier shooter when DICE releases a Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer DEMO on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be in stores on March 5, 2010 in New Zealand for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the PC.

For more information on DICE, please visit www.dice.se. For more information on the Battlefield franchise please visit: www.battlefield.com. Or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OfficialBFBC2.

Sony have released details about their competition to promote the latest Ratchet and Clank game Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time.

To celebrate the release of Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack In Time on PS3, Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand (SCENZ)  is giving you a special chance to get your own weapon design bought to life by WETA. Would be creators must submit their designs to www.tvnz.co.nz/ratchetandclank.

Running from November 1st to November 28th, the competition provides people with plenty of time to put their thinking caps on, design their dream weapon and enter it on the TVNZ website.  Do you think you could better the Groove-a-tron? There are two ways of submitting your entry. You can either upload your designs to the TVNZ website or post your entry to:  Ratchet and Clank Weapon Competition, 100 Victoria Street West, P0 Box 3819, Auckland.

Entries will be judged and the winner will be picked by WETA Workshop and Brian Allgeier, Creative Director of Insomniac Games and developer of the Ratchet and Clank franchise. The winning design will then be hand-crafted by WETA Workshop into a one-of-a-kind model. WETA has worked on films such as King Kong, The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, The Lovely Bones and the current release, District 9.

So start cracking on with your design for this once in a lifetime opportunity Ratchet and Clank weapon competition.

NOTES:

Entry is open to NZ residents only. For a full set of terms and conditions, go to www.tvnz.co.nz/ratchetandclank.co.nz.

Sony reveals details of the Eyepet (Press Release:)

Are your kids clamouring for a pet? Take them home an EyePet – the fully interactive and magical new creature for PLAYSTATION3 (PS3) from Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Cool, playful, and just bursting with fun and games, EyePet is your new family playmate, and he won’t make a mess or chew your TV cables! In stores today, EyePet brings endless entertainment and fun to all members of the family.

Interact with EyePet through PLAYSTATION Eye, the interactive camera for PS3. PLAYSTATION Eye will capture your surroundings and show them on your television screen, so your EyePet will appear in your very own living room. Call him with your Magic Card – a simple device that can create all sorts of fun and games for EyePet to play with – and watch as he hatches from egg and grows from a baby ball into a cub!  Throw a ball and he’ll scramble after it, pat him and he’ll roll over for a tummy scratch. Use your Magic Card to select toys for him, including a trampoline, bubble-machine along with other fantastic toys to play with!

By completing daily tasks, you can teach your EyePet brand-new games to play. The more he learns – the more exciting new tasks you’ll get to teach him! EyePet is fully aware of people in the room, and will play with you and your family in your home. Poke him and he jumps, stroke him and he’ll roll over in contentment, tickle him and he’ll laugh!

Watch on as your youngsters play, learn and laugh with EyePet – just as if they would with a real-life pet. Kids and adults alike will love to customise him, dress him and see his various reactions: surprise him with a new toy, cheer him up when he looks sad or happy when you stroke him. Bring home your family the perfect pet when EyePet. Please visit www.playstation.com for news and updates.

So my courier dropped off a rather curious looking package from Sony today. And the only reason I knew it was from Sony was because it came with a fact sheet. Do I want to tell you what the fact sheet was for? Nah, lets not kill the suspense just yet…

The package was hard and was covered in yellow cloth wrapped in burgundy ribbon albeit a little dirty, dusty looking yellow cloth. Still, the ribbon was kinda pretty and I really didn’t want to rip it open…

Wow, this cloth sure is dirty Sony...

So that's where my window cloth went!

The ribbon was glued on pretty tight but that didn’t stop me… two minutes later and…

Mmm that really looks like biscuit...

Nope, definitely NOT edible

OK now we’re really getting hungry… and intrigued but still very hungry. I mean, it kinda looked like biscuit except it really wasn’t biscuit. As we continued to unwrap the curious parcel we discovered text that looked like sanscript and some very cool artwork of Nathan Drake doing his thing in Uncharted 2.

Water coloured Nathan Drake looks edible enough...

And finally after all that unwrapping of dirty window cloth, ribbon, biscuit looking container (that wasn’t edible) and water coloured Nathan Drake… we have…

In all seriousness, the disks looked pretty kick ass!

Thanks to the peeps at Sony (and Katie!) for sending us the curious package today Keep your eyes peeled for our very edible review of Uncharted 2 coming soon…

Platform: PS3 Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Rating: TBA Players: Singleplayer Genre: Action/Adventure Release Date: March 26th, 2010

Website: www.godofwar.com

Last week we ventured along to Sony’s hands-on event to highlight their new selection of games releasing over the next season. With Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time releasing soon and Gran Turismo for PSP releasing last week, we were pretty keen to get a glimpse of God of War III. If you thought the previous GoW was great, you’re going to absolutely drool over GoW III as Kratos has evolved with even more deadly combinations and weapons, not to mention that overall bad-ass attitude he seems to have going on. Fact is, we all love Kratos and we just can’t get enough of him!

The code we had to play with was obviously unfinished and incomplete but we had a close-up and personal taste of some of Kratos’s shiny new weapons. The Cestus is Kratos’ new pair of gauntlets with the head of a lion on the front. Kratros uses this weapon to bash and smash things as opposed to using his trademark blades to slice and dice. Returning to the game are the Wings of Icarus which you can use to great advantage. Some of the aerial shots taken of Kratos like this one are very slick:

Don't try this at home, kids

Helios also plays a part in the new game, with Kratos fighting the usual array of gods and Titans etc to finish what he started. The path ahead is more bloody and gruesome than ever before. You’ll get lots of close-up shots of Kratos doing what he does best by ripping things apart and proving once again, that blood-letting is indeed what Kratos was made for. One particularly gruesome battle involves a Minotaur and some disembowelment action going on! Sony have spared no expense on the blood and gore – there’s blood curdling violence in copious amounts. Hurrah!

Kratos also gets around by using other means of transportation which includes hooking his blades into the necks of Harpies and flying across from one place to another which is more of the awesome stuff that makes God of War such an exciting game to play. And there’s no shortage of new combination moves to master as well as new puzzles which fans will find familiar from the previous game.

Hi, I'm Kratos, mind if I rip off your head?

New Zealand gamers are going to have to wait a wee while for God of War III as it doesn’t release here until March 26th, 2010 but rest assured, judging by the early glimpse of the gameplay we had, it will be well worth the wait.

As part of the media launch for Uncharted 2: Among Thieves releasing this week on the 15th, SCE NZ have released the following information:

To celebrate the return of fortune hunter Nathan Drake in the much anticipated ‘UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves’ on PlayStation 3, Sony Computer Entertainment NZ is running an epic treasure hunt, worthy of Drake’s quest to find the legendary Cintamani Stone.

The hunt starts this coming Wednesday the 14th of October and just like any treasure hunt, you’ll have to have your wits about you. To get started find t he ‘Nathan Drake NZ’ page on www.facebook.com , sign up as a fan, and then keep an eye out for the first clue to appear.

From here you’ll be lead on a journey of discovery where you’ll need to collect clues, solve puzzles and ultimately complete Drake’s quiz. But make sure you pay attention because the higher your score in the final quiz, the better your chance is of winning the major prize draw for your choice of a set of newly minted Uncharted 2 gold coins or a Sony home entertainment system consisting of a Sony Bravia TV, Sony home theatre system, one of the new 120GB PS3 consoles and a stash of Sony Pictures Blu-ray movies and PlayStation 3 games.

In addition to the major prizes, PlayStation will also be rewarding the most astute treasure hunters with ongoing challenge prizes and spot prizes along the way. Prizes include  copies of ‘Uncharted 2: Among Thieves’, exclusive PlayStation and Uncharted 2 merchandise, Sony Ericsson W705 phones, a Sony S Series Cybershot camera featuring facial recognition, a Sony Video Walkman featuring in-built speakers, music courtesy of Sony Music , SKY City movie passes, and a range of Sony Pictures Blu-ray  movies.

The first person to correctly complete the final quiz will also win a new PS3 – so it will pay to stay on your toes and sign up for the competition on Facebook now.

Nathan Drake NZ Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nathan-Drake-NZ/143159624893?ref=ts

Sony NZ have released the full list of cars available for the newly released Gran Turismo on PSP. The list features 830 different cars! Car enthusiasts will more than likely go nuts over the variety. Cars are unlocked during the game (so you can drool but you’ll need to actually unlock these beauties as you play).

Here’s the list: