Pretty graphics as expected of UE3. No details on the actual game though already it reeks of a Final Fantasy wanabe. That’s almost certainly unfairly discrediting the clearly talented developers though.

In Japan anyway - March 16. I sadly gave up on every previous Final Fantasy I’ve tried, even VII. This one somehow has my interest though. The visual design looks stunning even for a FF game and more importantly they’re finally ditching some of the stupid conventions of the series. No more random battles!

It’s CS by Namco for Japanese arcades - that probably explains the unfamiliar manga feel. Crazy. (Shackers deliver, as ever)

Ever since I watched in amazement as water filled a pond in Unreal (before realising it was just a moving transparent poly) I’ve wondered when we’d get real fluid dynamics in games. Soon, it seems. At around $300 per Physx card though I’m not so sure they’ll catch on like graphics cards.

Suitably macho intro cinematic to Ghost Recon 3, one of the "OMG that’s pretty" titles due for Xbox 360. I didn’t get much out of the first one for some reason, too much getting shot by unseen enemies. Maybe the third one gets the formula right this time - near future squad-based urban warfare certainly appeals. (via linkbunnies)

I’ve pondered this before and a post over at Wonderland got me pondering again: when are we going to see more visually stylised games? Cell shading was revolutionary when Jet Set Radio debuted but that’s as far as that kind of thing has gone, since then no one’s tried anything nearly so visually fresh and exciting.

Why not create a whole game that looks like a moving oil painting ala What Dreams May Come. Or instill some excitement in your grungy action title by implementing a vibrant sketched look? Cell shading was just the first step, surely. Technical challenges be damned, who’s going to take the next step?

A GBA version of the critically demolished Driv3r. The question must be asked - why? Looks quite pretty but then all that means on the GBA is it’ll run at approximately 5fps.

I like David Jaffe, he kind of reminds me of CliffyB. Some great thoughts about games design, and yet reading those thoughts feels more like you’re hearing them down the pub (swearing and all) rather than at a serious games design seminar or something. Anyway, his most recent blog entry has this to say about the God of War movie:

to me, that’s the key… getting the movie folks to understand it’s not just about the spectacle
(although that’s a blast) but there’s got to be something under the hood making
it matter, you know? And these guys get it, so I’m real proud to be working with
them

I’m serious. Thankfully, it seems this book isn’t entirely so. Still, I had to laugh at the fairly ridiculous concept of both a book and world championship. (good ol’ del.icio.us)

Yeah, so I’m late with this. The Zodiac is officially toast. A shame really - it always seemed pretty nice, certainly more so than the inevitably doomed Gizmondo. Nice big screen, decent 3D performance, PDA functionality. Still, a games machine needs good games and it kinda lacked them. (spotted this earlier but all credit to Cathode Tan for the reminder)

Stupid title for another good piece defending games. Clearly I can’t get enough of articles like this. Few such articles mention one fact that stands out to me though - half of the problem is how little these critics understand games.

Have they played them? No, at best they gripped a controller then gave up minutes later after spending the whole time staring at the virtual ceiling. They see them as nothing but high tech toys for kids, therefore sex and violence are clearly out of place and corrupting our youth. The rating system isn’t broken, they’re simply using the latest controversy to push start another meritless band waggon to further their own political/financial ends. (via del.icio.us)

Utterly storming web game and Chemical Brothers viral. It’s almost entirely played with one button, so very much a case of style over substance, but it’s still hard to stop playing until you’ve clocked it.