Archive for September, 2009

Need for Speed Shift Reviewed, in so Many Words

Monday, September 28th, 2009

shift

Need for Speed Shift’s list of accomplishments is rather impressive: the best, most drivable cockpit view of any racing game out there, a fun and addictive leveling system, sound design that’s second to none, and graphics that blur the line between fantasy and reality. But where Shift truly separates itself from the pack is in its ability to—much like a woman convincing you you’re the best and biggest she’s ever had—make you believe you’re driving a simulation while only demanding arcade racing skills from you.

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About our scale… the number of words in our review reflects the score of the game. In practical terms, you could assume that games reviewed in 49 words or fewer should be avoided, games reviewed in 50-75 words would make a decent rental, and games reviewed in 76 words or more would make a solid purchase.

The Fanboys Lunchcast: Episode 77

Sunday, September 27th, 2009
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Episode 77: Half a ‘Cast (32:04)
Featuring equipment failure, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Need for Speed Shift, Halo Odious Tea, Dirt 2, the Forza 3 demo, listener mail, and periodic gusts of wind.

Modern Combat: Sandstorm Reviewed, in so Many Words

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

sandstorm

Beyond the fundamental quandary of whether one should develop a first-person shooter on the iPhone just because they can, it seems Gameloft has become the Weird Al Yankovic of iPhone game development—cranking out one shameless console classic rip-off after another. And, like Weird Al, it’s not funny anymore.

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About our scale… the number of words in our review reflects the score of the game. In practical terms, you could assume that games reviewed in 49 words or fewer should be avoided, games reviewed in 50-75 words would make a decent rental, and games reviewed in 76 words or more would make a solid purchase.

The Fanboys Lunchcast: Episode 76

Saturday, September 19th, 2009
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Episode 76: Inverted Centaur (46:05)
Featuring preventive medicine, dream interpretations, Scribblenauts, The Beatles–their music and their game, a batch of listener mail, and your chance to win a MAG beta code.

We Want You!

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

mag-army

The beta is underway for MAG, the Playstation 3’s ginormous 256-player online shooter. And Platform Nation is assembling their own army to join the fun. 128 codes are up for grabs, and you’ll have a chance to win one of ten that we’ll be giving away on this weekend’s Lunchcast. But if you want to increase your chances, check out all the other Platform Nation podcasts–each one has their own set of ten codes to offer listeners in the coming week.

EDIT: Codes are all claimed. Thanks for playing, kids.

Scribblenauts Reviewed, in so Many Words

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

scribblenauts

Scribblenauts occupies a similar—albeit not as hallowed—chunk of real estate in my brain as LittleBigPlanet. And I suspect the game will prove equally divisive. Some will argue the controls are iffy, the solutions to puzzles are seemingly arbitrary, and it’s less a “game” and more a “gimmick.” Those folks will be correct—and completely miss the point. Because, when your logically sound solution to a puzzle meets a frustrating dead end, that’s where Scribblenauts truly begins. At that moment, it’s time to test your imagination, embrace the absurd, and become a kid again.

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About our scale… the number of words in our review reflects the score of the game. In practical terms, you could assume that games reviewed in 49 words or fewer should be avoided, games reviewed in 50-75 words would make a decent rental, and games reviewed in 76 words or more would make a solid purchase.

The Fanboys Lunchcast: Episode 75

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009
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Episode 75: PAX by Proxy (1:19:50)
We couldn’t make it to Penny Arcade Expo, so we hijacked the airplane carrying Chris Johnston (host of the Player One Podcast) and his fiancée to give us the scoop on what went down. In addition to loads of games: The Beatles Rock Band, Left 4 Dead 2, Shank, Muramasa, Halo ODST, and more, we also touch on iPhone game development, some movies, porn on airplanes, and the versatility of mayonnaise.