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Cliff Bleszinski says goodbye to Epic Games

Posted: October 4, 2012 by Joel Kost in Gamenomics - Video Games
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You read the headline correctly: Cliff Bleszinski, known for his work on the Gears of War and Unreal tournament series, is leaving Epic Games. The news came earlier today on the Epic Games blog. Here is his farewell statement:

I’ve been doing this since I was a teenager, and outside of my sabbatical last year, I have been going non-stop. I literally grew up in this business, as Mike likes to say. And now that I’m grown up, it’s time for a much needed break.

I will miss the projects, the playtests, the debates, and most importantly, the people. Epic only hires the best of the best, and it has been a joy working with each and every one of you on a daily basis, whether you were hired weeks ago or decades ago. I have been fortunate enough to collaborate with a variety of disciplines, from code to art to marketing and PR – it’s been one big, rewarding learning experience. I’m confident that each project that is being built, whether at Epic, Chair, PCF, or Impossible will be top notch and will please gamers and critics alike.

The Gears of Wars series is what made me so invested in my Xbox when I first got it, so it sad to see him leave. I wish him the best of luck on any of his future projects.

The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #9 review

Posted: October 1, 2012 by Joel Kost in Comicology - Comic Books, IDW
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I’ve really started to grow fond of More than Meets the Eye (MTMTE). When it first released I was much more in to its counterpart, Robots in Disguise (RiD). Lately, however, I feel as though MTMTE has been able to deliver a much stronger narrative with stories that I actually care about, as opposed to the constant and tedious power struggles that the characters in RiD face. After reading issue #9, I’m officially hooked. It’s not perfect, but the wonderful story telling mixed with the constant mysteries that are thrown at the reader are just too hard to resist.

The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #9

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Wii U launch line-up: it’s here, and it’s awesome

Posted: September 26, 2012 by Joel Kost in Gamenomics - Video Games
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Unlike the Nintendo 3DS’s abysmal launch titles, the Wii U is coming out strong. With 23 games being released on the day of the system’s launch (Nov. 18) there is something for everybody. While games like Lego City Stories and Pikmin 3 won’t be appearing right away, they in the the Wii U’s “launch window” period, so you won’t have to wait too long to get your hands on them. Here’s what you can get on day one:

Assassin’s Creed III
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Darksiders II
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
ESPN Sports Connection
FIFA Soccer 13
Game Party Champions
Just Dance 4
New Super Mario Bros. U
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge
Nintendo Land
Rabbids Land
Scribblenauts Unlimited
Sing Party
Skylanders: Giants
Sonic & All-Starts Racing Transformed
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
Transformers Prime
Warrior’s Orochi 3 Hyper
Wipeout 3
Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2013
ZombiU

 From platforming, to shooting, to dungeon exploration, everything is there. No more complaining, Nintendo fans! I do believe that Nintendo has fixed its past mistakes.

It’s time for a Transformers Beast Wars video game

Posted: September 22, 2012 by Joel Kost in Gamenomics - Video Games
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For those of you who didn’t know (basically everyone in the world except for me) Monday marked the 28th anniversary of the first episode of the original G1 Transformers cartoon series. Naturally, I was thinking about the legacy the franchise as a whole has made for itself, and what lies ahead in the future. There was one idea in particular that I just couldn’t shake off, and I realized that this needed to happen: A Beast Wars video game.

Beast Wars was a spin-off of the G1 cartoon that lead to multiple series in both the U.S. and Japan. It took place in the same continuity as the 1980s series, but instead of robots transforming into vehicles, the show featured robots transforming into animals. It was a very strange concept, but it did extremely well for itself. This is the Transformers series that many people from my generation remember the most. I personally didn’t watch it much, but the toys that were based off of the show were amazing.

After seeing the success of both War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron (two highly praised Transformers video games), a Beast Wars video game would undoubtedly continue the trend of hardcore Transformers games…if it was done correctly. These are my ideas as to how this would be a success.

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Awesome video explains how every video game is somehow connected

Posted: September 18, 2012 by Joel Kost in Gamenomics - Video Games
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This is something every gamer has to check out. Ever wonder if Samus could throw down with characters from the Dark Stalkers series? What about Mario fighting the Zurg from Starcraft? While these scenarios seem completely ridiculous and out of place, Youtube user Matthew Patrick finds a way to make it all make sense. Don’t believe me? See for yourself:

The Rocketeer Cargo of Doom #2 review

Posted: September 14, 2012 by Joel Kost in Comicology - Comic Books, IDW
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IDW Cover of Rocketeer Cargo of Doom #2

The Rocketeer is one of those comic book super hero series that fully embraces our silly, childhood fantasies. It takes outdated concepts and turns them into some of the greatest adventures ever to hit comics. Cargo of Doom #1 re-introduced both fans and newcomers of the series to the world of The Rocketeer, and it was one of the best comic books I read last month. The second issue of this series is no different, and continues to deliver the action, mystery, and laughs that The Rocketeer is so well-known and loved know for.

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Transformers Fall of Cybertron new Dinobot DLC is out now!

Posted: September 11, 2012 by Joel Kost in Gamenomics - Video Games
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Transformers fans, your dream has finally come true: you can now play as the Dinobots on Fall of Cybertron multiplayer! Well, most of them, anyways. The Dinobot Destructor Pack which includes characters Slug, Grimlock, Snarl, and Swoop, allows player to customize their multiplayer characters using parts from the popular characters. While Sludge, the fifth member of the Dinobot team, is not included, High Moon Studios is “taking note of his surprisingly huge fan base.”

This is the second multiplayer DLC that has been released for Fall of Cybertron this month. The first, called the Multiplayer Havoc Pack, included Wheeljack (my personal favorite), Ultra Magnus, Blastoff, Perceptor and Zeta Prime. A third DLC, Massive Fury Pack, has also been announced for September 25. This pack includes Autobots Hound, G1 Optimus Prime (which was originally a pre-order bonus from Gamestop), and Insecticons Kickback, Hardshell, and Sharpshot.

Here’s the trailer for all three DLC packs:

Pokemon clone hits the iOS app store

Posted: September 6, 2012 by Joel Kost in Gamenomics - Video Games
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We see video game clones on the app store all the time. Whether they are based on triple A titles or other popular iOS games, you could probably find dozens upon dozens of rip-offs. This time, however, some one has stooped to a new low and created one of the most blatant Pokemon clones I have ever seen. Titled “Little Masters”, the player becomes “a master of monsters who captures and trains monsters to battle the others” (taken from the games description).

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Rovio announces new game, “Bad Piggies”

Posted: September 4, 2012 by Joel Kost in Gamenomics - Video Games, Steam, PC, & Indie Games
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The Man of Steel trailers are here!

Posted: July 23, 2012 by Joel Kost in Comicology - Comic Books, DC Comics, Movies & Television
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Shown at the San Diego Comic-Con, 2013’s Man of Steel trailers are now available for your viewing pleasure! Both trailers show the same thing, but the first is voiced by Kevin Costner (who plays Jonathan Kent) and the second is voiced by Russell Crowe (who plays Superman’s biological father, Jor-El). Based on both previews, it seems that this Superman film will focus heavily on who Clark is as an individual, as Costner says, “One day you’re gonna have to make a choice. You have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be. Who that man is, good character of bad, he is going to change the world.”

I’m looking forward to this new direction that director Zack Snyder is taking to the Superman film franchise. Making a movie about a super hero who can do anything is no easy task; it doesn’t leave room for many surprises. Focusing on what Superman stands for, rather than what he can do, will be a nice change of pace, and I truly hope that Snyder can deliver the experience that all fans of the man of steel have been dying for.

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