Hardcore Gamer

Ok, maybe not technically everything, but this is the video that finally sold me on the new SSX.  From its humble beginnings in the overwhelmingly grey VGA trailer, more and more info has come out on SSX in the intervening year until it finally metamorphosed into this wonderfully insane-looking blast of candy-colored adrenaline.  Yes, there’s plenty that can be said about the number of mountains, classic and new characters, shiny new toys like the wingsuit, and all the other bits and goodies that go with giving SSX its much-deserved revival.  Or you can watch two and a half minutes of footage and hopefully come away with the same impression I did of “Oh yes, this.  This is what I want!”

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One of the hidden gems of 2011′s E3 was Quarrel, the XBLA game tucked off in a corner of Ignition’s booth, and after much waiting (and eventually forgetting that it exists) it finally made its was to the marketplace today.  So put on your explorer hat and dive into the unforgiving wilds of the current iteration of the 360′s dashboard, because there’s some great gaming a mere few dozen menus down.

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While it’s great to be back, and we’ve got a lot of things to say, it’d be silly to think we’re the only ones being interesting.  It’s a giant interweb with all sorts of goodies lurking in its dark and secret corners, so here’s a handful of links to while away your afternoon-

First up, a nice little almost-pictorial from Castle Story developer Sauropod Studios on why square voxels aren’t suitable for their castle building game.  And as long as you’re there, check out the video on the front page for a nice overview of the game basics from an early development build.

Second, an article from Llamsoft developer Jeff Minter on the origin of Goat Up, the iOS game (with a PC version in the wings eventually) that started off as a relaxing little hobby project for the Atari 2600.  Yes, it’s true, some people find programming for 128 bytes of memory a fun way to spend the weekend.

Third and finally (for now), a giant article on the Buddhist origins of Asura’s Wrath.  The level of detailing in the art design the article points out makes me desperately wish that the demo had shown a game worth playing.

More later, when and as interesting and strange things come into view.

Well this came out of nowhere.  Sol Exodus is a lovely looking throwback to the Wing Commander/Freespace days, when capitol ships were packed full of single-pilot fighters and everyone wanted to be a non-copyright-infringing version of Star Wars.  Releasing on Steam in a very few days, Sol Exodus’s Unreal Engine 3-powered first person space shooter pyrotechnics are set in our home solar system, where one can assume bad things are happening.  Further, these terrible events can most likely only be averted by a plucky/determined space pilot at the helm of an advanced fighter loaded down with zappy guns, missiles, and who knows what other destructive toys.

In all honesty, all I know about Sol Exodus is what’s on the linked web site and in the video below, but my, does it look like a lovely combination of pretty and awesome. See for yourself-

See? Lovely!