Posted 8/23/11 4:36 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in iPhone / iPad, News
There's little doubt in my mind that "Machine Gun Jetpack" was my most anticipated iOS game of 2011. Unfortunately that's no longer the case. Now "Jetpack Joyride" is my most anticipated iOS game of 2011! Yes, the game from Halfbrick Studios (the squad behind the "Fruit Ninja" phenominon) has done a last-minute name change. The team has announced that the newly-retitled iOS release is scheduled for release on September 1.
Posted 8/23/11 3:00 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in Free Stuff, Xbox 360
In the grand tradition of giving you free stuff, we're going to give you free stuff! For today's free stuff, we have 5 download codes for the "Call of Duty: Black Ops" map pack, "Rezurrection," on Xbox 360.
Getting one these codes is surprisingly easy. All you need to do is re-tweet this post when it appears on the Twitter account of MTV Multiplayer editor, Russ Frushtick. For example:
"RT @RussFrushtick Call of Duty Black Ops Rezurrection map pack giveaway! http://ow.ly/6aNbt"
Spamming is discouraged. Please just one RT per account.
He'll select five winners at random from the list of RTers, with one winner for each code.
Just a heads up: You need to be following Russ on Twitter, since he'll need to direct message you the code if you're selected.
He'll direct message the winners on Wednesday (August 24), so be sure to check your Twitter in-box for any DMs from him. Good luck!
Posted 8/23/11 12:12 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in Features, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Yesterday I reviewed "Deus Ex: Human Revolution." You can read that review if you want, but, long story short, the game's really damn good and you should pick it up. One of the unique features of "DXHR" is that you can play through the entire game without killing anyone (save for the bosses, who totally deserve to die anyway). If you actually manage to make it to the end of the game without killing anyone, you'll be rewarded with the Pacifist achievement/trophy, a true accomplishment.
Because I'm a crazy person, I decided to go for this achievement on my first time through the whole game. And I succeeded! Now I'm here to share with you some pointers on how you too can succeed in the ways of non-lethality. This guide won't have any spoilers, but it will have tips on which augmentations to pick up and which weapons you should have in your inventory.
Note: You'll still get all the story elements from playing through the game non-lethally, but if stealth isn't your usual style, I'd suggest playing through the game once however you want. Stealthy players should feel right at home playing non-lethally, though.
Posted 8/22/11 5:58 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in Uncategorized
Markus "Notch" Persson, the creator of "Minecraft" and the founder of Mojang Specifications, has been working on his world-crafting smash hit for quite a while now. After a few years, it's easy to get burnt out working on the same project. A good way to combat this fatigue is to take on small, just-for-fun projects to keep your ideas fresh. Case in point: Notch went ahead and made a whole game in 48 hours as part of the Ludum Dare competition and now you can play it!
Posted 8/22/11 12:06 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in PC, PS3, Reviews, Xbox 360
Imagine taking a beloved RPG franchise that hasn't been around for nearly 10 years and reviving it with an entirely different studio and team. Seems like it'd be a recipe for disaster, huh? And yet, look at "Fallout 3." It was released 10 years after "Fallout 2," developed by fans of the franchise and, bang, game of the year contender. And, wouldn't you know it, the same exact thing has happened with "Deus Ex: Human Revolution," a game which brings back all the elements people loved about the original "Deus Ex" with the addition of modern sensibilities and an actually-comprehensible story.
Posted 8/19/11 5:13 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in Mac, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
The original "Trine" was a charming, original experience which blended phsyics-based puzzling with character swapping. It was kinda like "Castlvania 3" but way less insanely difficult and frustrating. Unfortunately, those without a PS3 or a decent PC were unable to to experience "Trine," which never came to 360. That changes with "Trine 2," which is coming to every platform under the sun, including Mac and Linnux!
Posted 8/19/11 2:58 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in Mac, News, PC
The cross-over has long been a staple of prime time TV programming. The Jetsons went back in time to visit The Flintstones, Jay Sherman came to Springfield for a film festival and there was probably some episode where "Gray's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" came together that I never saw. Cross-overs in video games are more rare, usually just existing in two games from the same company. Valve has done this a bunch with Black Mesa references in "Portal," but they're also willing to bring other companies into the fold, thanks to "Team Fortress 2." The game's many updates have added items from games like "Skyrim" and "Monday Night Combat."
The latest non-Valve cross-over is promoting "Deus Ex: Human Revolution," which releases next week. The update adds eight new items, including some new guns and cosmetic options. Diligent "TF2" fans can access these guns for free through standard drops and trading, but the less patient can pre-order "Deus Ex" on Steam for instant access to them.
Posted 8/19/11 11:09 am EST by Russ Frushtick in PC, PS3, Video, Xbox 360
Yesterday we presented 20 minutes of raw, unedited (except for the nasty words) "Dead Island" gameplay footage. You all seemed to like it so much that we're back to give you even more! Yes, today we present 15 more minutes of footage, picking up right where yesterday left off. Today's highlights include decapitations, mission hubs and more fun in the sun!
For Parts 1 - 3, check out yesterday's "Dead Island" gameplay videos!
Posted 8/18/11 6:18 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in Mac, News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
If it seems like months ago Valve promised the world that free "Portal 2" DLC was coming this summer, that's because it was. Yes, it was back in April when Valve sent word of the first "Portal 2" DLC pack, but since then we haven't heard a peep. Meanwhile, summer is dwindling and memories of P-Body and Atlas are slowly fading into obscurity. Is "Portal 2" DLC going the way of "Half-Life 3: Episode 3"? Not hardly! Valve is pegging the release for mid-September.
Posted 8/18/11 12:32 pm EST by Russ Frushtick in PC, PS3, Video, Xbox 360
I was pretty sure I knew what to expect from "Dead Island." Generally a pretty, pre-rendered cutscene like the one that kicked off the firestorm of media interest, usually means that the actual game is A) ugly and B) not very good. I'm happy to report that neither is the case with "Dead Island," a game which takes the very best elements of "Borderlands" and "Oblivion" and mashes them up with extreme, undead carnage. Last week we played through the first 20 minutes of the game, but the great thing about "Dead Island" is the level of freedom you're given. Case in point, here's the first 20 minutes (minus the linear prologue), played very differently. Yes, this is what you should be watching while eating lunch at your desk.