Dear Gabby: Mad Scientist Hoping To Find His GLaDOS

By Paul Hunter

DEAR GABBY: I'm an Aperture scientist in my late 30's and have spent the last decade locked up in our Enrichment Center researching ways to give Companion Cubes some personality. After an experiment gone wrong I seem to have created some weird Cube/sheep hybrid that just won't stand still. They prance about in the most unintelligent of ways and it's impossible to get them to stand still and cooperate during testing! It was deemed a failure by the artificial life that oversees our operations, GLaDOS, and one of her Morality Cores escorted me off the premises immediately. The thing is, I had never laid eyes on GLaDOS until that day, and now I can't get her demure image out of my head. To be honest, I had never encountered a woman with such snarky one-liners before, and it kind of excited me when she talked about "testing me" for the rest of my life. She kept on referencing cake too, but I assumed that was part of the fun.

I did manage to smuggle one of the facilities Portal Guns and some nights I sneak into the Relaxation Vault in hopes of "feeling" her presence.

What advice do you have to help get my post back at Aperture Laboratories and see this narcissist, passive-aggressive beauty that fills my every dream? -- MAD SCIENTIST FROM MICHIGAN

DEAR MAD SCIENTIST FROM MICHIGAN: First of all, your technosexuality is more than a little creepy. You do realize that she will never be able to satisfy you like a real woman could? Anyway, my advice to you is this: take your portal gun out to the Atlantic Ocean and fire a blue portal to the ocean floor, then return home. The next time you start fantasizing about GLaDOS take a deep breath and shoot a yellow portal at the ceiling above your head. Yaay!
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Eight Friends Are Invited To The Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D Character Trailer

By Paul Hunter

Well okay, not every character in Capcom's upcoming Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D are friends per se, but it is nice to see them all working together to rid the land of those nasty bio-organic weapons (B.O.W.). The game marks the debut of the Resident Evil series on Nintendo's new 3DS console, and is a console exclusive. The Mercenaries 3D has an expected release date of June 28, 2011.

In the latest trailer, Capcom reveals the eight playable characters that are banding together in a battle against the clock to rack up as many points as possible obtained by blasting the horde of Las Plagas infected creatures. An unlockable mode first introduced in Resident Evil 4, each mission of The Mercenaries takes place on a fixed map as has players face off against never ending waves of flesh eating zombies in frantic pace as the clock slowly ticks down to zero.

As seen in the character trailer below, the game features brother and sister Chris and Claire Redfield, STARS agents Jill Valentine, Barry Burton and Rebecca Chambers, the masked HUNK, the hired mercenary Jack Krauser, and the man in black, Albert Wesker.

Check out the trailer here:



Featuring re-mastered stages from Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, the game will be a trip down memory lane for veteran fans, but there's plenty new to keep the experience fresh. While the gameplay will be familiar to those who have played the previous Mercenaries, the biggest change is the presentation is full 3D, taking advantage of the Nintendo 3DS' unique capabilities.

For the longest time (well, at least since 2005's Resident Evil 4) fan have been demanding the ability to run and shoot, and finally this feature has been included in The Mercenaries. That in itself is a huge gameplay change and should serve to make the action even faster and more action-packed than ever before. An additional gameplay change includes the ability to switch weapons on the fly using the Nintendo 3DS touch screen, further enhancing the speed and mobility of your characters.

The game can be played as a solo experience or you can team up with gamers across the world and enjoy two-player action via ad hoc and Nintendo WiFi network play. In total there are over 30 mission of intense Mercenaries action where you do battle with terrifying enemies, including the deadly Executioner and Popo Karimu.

Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D includes a brand new Skill Slot feature which lets players fill three skill slots from a selection of 30 skills including improved weapon performance, reload speed or melee abilities, allowing for complete customizations of characters to suit your style of play. There is also a robust skill and abilities unlock system the rewards players for achieving milestones. Skills and abilities that become available include added health, weapons damage, customization and so on.

As an added bonus, The Mercenaries 3D will also include a playable demo of Capcom's forthcoming Nintendo 3DS title, Resident Evil Revelations. In the game players once again assume the role of Jill Valentine as she experiences the horrors of this all new Resident Evil title.

Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D ships on June 28, 2011 and is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]
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Cars 2: The Video Game Preview

By Paul Hunter

It was inevitable that the 2006 animated film Cars would receive a video game tie-in and just like its predecessor the upcoming sequel will also be seeing a game based the Cars universe. Amidst all the pre-E3 games I've been playing recently Cars 2: The Video Game stood out for its pick up and play gameplay and charming cast of characters taken directly from the upcoming Pixar computer animated 3D film.

The game will be released on June 21 (three days before the animated film comes out) for the Xbox 360 (version previewed), PlayStation 3, Wii, Nintendo DS, and PC. 

I had a chance to preview the game at The Vault (literally an authentic old bank vault), located on King Street West in Toronto, and it's a fitting location considering the international espionage theme of Cars 2. Given the action spy premise of the movie the developers at Avalanche Software could have taken the video game in several directions that would have worked well, and decided a combat racing game would serve the franchise best.

Based after the events of the movie, the games takes a leap away from Radiator Springs, the location of the first Cars, and has our cast of lovable characters enroll in C.H.R.O.M.E. (Command Headquarters for Reconnaissance Operations and Motorized Espionage), the international spy academy where talking vehicles train to become world-class agents. The developers wanted to create as authentic of a Cars experience as possible so expect to see a number of your favourite characters from the first movie including racecar Lightning McQueen and tow truck Mater, as well as newcomers Holley Shiftwell and Finn McMissile.

The best way to describe Cars 2: The Video Game is Mario Kart meets Twisted Metal. Taking a conventional arcade racing game approach and adding a plethora of spy gadgets at your disposal, what we have here is a combat racing game with all the speed, weapons deployments and evasive driving you'd come to expect from the genre. Your spy gadgets include oil slicks, missiles, machine guns, and EMP bursts, all designed to slow down the other racers as you speed towards victory.

It features 15 different tracks and eight modes that range from traditional Battle Race Mode, to Attack Mode which has you cooperatively playing with your friends to hunt down and disable enemy AI cars, and Disruptor which is a variation of Capture the Flag where the goal is to scoop up a disruption in the middle of the battle arena and detonate it in the heart of your opponent's base to blow it up. There's also a mode called Hunter where you and friends are tasked with defeating wave after wave of minions in an arena with an enemy boss to face at the end. All competitive and cooperative gameplay is split-screen, as there is no online play, with Avalanche Software wanting gamers to play locally with friends and family.

The core gameplay involves racing around the tracks performing tricks such as drifting around corners, driving backwards, propping your car up on two wheels, and crashing through blue and white signs to raise your turbo meter for some speed boost. Turbo meter juice can also be obtained by collecting All in All, the renewable fuel at the center of the film, which is scattered along the race tracks.

As your race you can also deploy a range of weapons to halt the progress of your AI opponents and gain the racing advantage. There will be more than 20 cars to choose from, with some additional DLC to be released later, possibly adding more of your favourite vehicles. Many of the voice actors who voice the characters in the movie are also lending their voice to the video game so expect from funny one-liners as you race. Each car controls differently based on stats such as top speed, acceleration and size. What's cool is that each character has their own unique dialogue as you race, and certain characters have specific one-liners based on their relationship with rival cars (e.g. Mater calls out Lightning McQueen as they encounter each other). To add a little more fun into the game, there's even a taunt button to mock your friends as you race past them to victory.

With a wide range of characters, race tracks, and modes, Cars 2: The Video Game is already shaping up to be a nice package. The characters are already looking lively and the tracks vibrant, even at this early stage. I thoroughly enjoyed Avalanche Software's take on Toy Story 3, and so I have high hopes for the final version of Cars 2: The Video Game. Clearly, Disney Interactive have put the Cars franchise in good hands. I'm eagerly looking forward to zipping around and blasting my friends with my spy gadgets in about three weeks time.

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]
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PlayStation Network Restoration Begins in Japan and Asia Countries

By Paul Hunter

In what can be described as massive step forward for Sony's PlayStation Network restoration plans, the company has announced plans to relaunch the online service in Japan and Asian countries and regions including Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand on May 28.

This marks the last major region to come back online after services have already begun resuming in North America, Europe, Australia and Latin America.

The major security breach which took down the service occurred some time between April 17 and April 19, 2011, when unauthorized intruder(s) hacked into Sony's servers and successfully stole a vast amount of sensitive consumer data including user's full name, address, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID. It has not been officially ruled out whether billing information was also taken, which may include credit card number, expiration date, and consumer purchase history. All users of Sony's PlayStation Network have been advised to stay vigilant and monitor their personal information closely.

Japanese government officials within the Ministry of Economy's Media and Content Industry department had some outstanding questions regarding the security of the PlayStation Network and Sony's plan to safeguard consumer data, and had blocked the restoration plans until they got their answers.

"We met with Sony on May 6 and 13, and basically we want two things from them," Kazushige Nobutani, director of the Media and Content Industry department at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, told Dow Jones Newswires.

"The first is preventative measures," said Nobutani, and stated that Sony was incomplete in rolling out measures the company promised they would do at a May 1 press conference. The second was how Sony plans on winning back consumer confidence over the protection of personal data such as credit card information.

Working closely with the Japanese Ministry and respected outside security firms, Sony has come to a resolution to both these demands. Additional security measures have now been put in place to strengthen safeguards against unauthorized intrusions, including updating and adding advanced security technologies, additional software monitoring and vulnerability testing, and increased levels of encryption and additional firewalls. An early-warning detection system which measures unusual activity within the network infrastructure has also been added and could signal attempts to compromise the network.

A brand new position, Chief Information Security Officer, has also been created at Sony to oversee information security across the company's vast network infrastructure.

“I’d also like to send my sincere regret to customers in Japan and Asian countries and regions for the inconvenience these events have caused you,” said Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation. “We are taking aggressive action including increasing security measures and working with respective authorities to address the concerns that were raised by this incident. We are making consumer data protection a full-time, company wide commitment so that our customers can rest assured about enjoying their entertainment.” 

The services that will be resuming in Japan and other Asian countries includes:

• Sign-in for PlayStation Network and Qriocity services, including the resetting of passwords
• Restoration of online game-play across PlayStation 3 and PSP
• ‘Friends’ category on PS3, including Friends List, Chat Functionality, Trophy Comparison, etc
• PlayStation Home
• Access to other network features on services such as torne

In addition, Sony will also be offering identity protection measures in Japan including the establishment of a phone hotline to offer guidance on the restoration of services, and how to protect against identity theft. Sony will also bear the costs for all customers who wish to replace their existing credit cards with reissued cards.

Further still, Sony will also introduce a "Welcome Back" package to Japanese customers, which, like in North America, will extend an offer to download two PS3 games and two PSP games as a thank you.

Japanese customers can choose two out of the following five titles for PS3 and PSP (four total):

PS3
o The Last Guy
o LocoRoco Cocoreccho!
o echochrome
o WipEout HD
o Hustler King

PSP
o Yuhshanokuseninamaikida or2 PSP the Best
o Everybody’s Stress Buster
o Patapon 2 PSP the Best
o LittleBigPlanet Portable
o LocoRoco -Midnight Carnival- 

Sony will also throw in other free offerings in the Welcome Back package including 30 days free membership to PlayStation Plus, a free membership card to Weekly Toro Station for 30 days, select movie rentals free of charge, and a special personal space in PlayStation Home.

At this time it appears that service will not yet be resuming in South Korea and Hong Kong, however Sony says restoration timelines will be announced as soon as ready.

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]
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PS3 Limited Edition Call of Duty: Black Ops Bundle Available End of May

By Paul Hunter

April showers bring May...limited edition PS3 Call of Duty: Black Ops bundles. Well, I don't remember the saying going quite like that, but since we're used to seeking shelter during these past weeks of inclement weather perhaps it's time to consider extending our indoor living just a wee bit longer with this upcoming exclusive new PS3 hardware bundle.

On May 31, Sony Computer Entertainment America and Activision Publishing are coming together to release a new bundle in North America which just happens to include the best-selling game from last year. The full contents of the bundle are a 160GB PS3 system, a Dualshock 3 wireless controller, a copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops on Blu-ray disc, plus Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike Content Pack, all for $299.99 (a $360 value).

If you're thinking of picking up your first PS3 it's worth noting that system has many features included out-of-the-box such as HDMI connectivity, 2 USB ports, built-in WiFi, free access to the PlayStation network (Sony's robust online service used for digital downloads, online multiplayer gameplay, friend list and chat), stereoscopic 3D gameplay (with compatible TV sets), and services such as Qriocity and Netflix.

Call of Duty: Black Ops has sold a ridiculous amount of copies to date, with over 13.7 million copies in the US alone as of February, 2011. In fact Black Ops has now become the best-selling video game in US history, even topping Nintendo's Wii Play, the former leader in total sales. During the opening week, Black Ops pushed 5.6 million units in North America and the United Kingdom, making it the largest entertainment launch in history. From a revenue perspective, Black Ops took in $360 in its first 24 hours on sale, and $650 million in its first week. By the third week of December last year, Black Ops passed the $1 billion dollars in revenue. That's a lot of green in only six week's time.

“The choice to bundle Call of Duty: Black Ops and the First Strike Content Pack with the PlayStation 3 is perfect for anyone looking to bring home an incredible entertainment experience, that delivers endless hours of excitement through the games epic single player campaign, hugely popular multiplayer on PlayStation Network, or our fan favorite co-op Zombies mode,” said Mark Lamia, Studio Head of Treyarch. “And for those with 3D enabled televisions, the game’s Campaign, Multiplayer and Zombies experiences are seamlessly set up for stereoscopic 3D on the PS3 right out of the box.” 

The First Strike Content Pack includes four additional maps called "Berlin Wall", "Discovery", "Kowloon" and "Stadium" and brand new Zombie mode using a map called "Ascension" which takes place in a Soviet launch site and enables up to four players to use a range of weapons to blast an endless wave of blood-thirty zombies.

A second map pack (not included in the limited edition bundle) entitled "Escalation" was released on Xbox Live on May 3 and expected to be a timed exclusive. No details have been given as to when the PS3 version of Escalation will be released.

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]
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