Old News: Fable Anniversary

The first Fable, and more specifically The Lost Chapters, is one of my all-time favorite games on the original Xbox.  It was a fantastic action RPG with a lot of charm and great artistic design.  I loved it.  I continued to love the franchise going forward, but none of the sequels managed to capture that same spark that the first one had with me.  Needless to say, I’m really excited about the upcoming remake of the first game in the franchise.

I didn’t really let this news slip me by–I was fully aware of the fact that there was a remake in the works–but I just got side tracked with other posts.  Going back through my RSS feeds, I’ve re-stumbled upon the news that Fable is being remade in high def.  With E3 and all of excitement coming from it, I can understand how this might have been missed by a lot of people, so I’ve taken it upon myself to share this wonderful (old) news:

Xbox One: All the policies you feared are NOT an issue

XboxOne

Microsoft has confirmed that their upcoming console will not restrict the sale of used games and will not require an internet connection beyond the console’s initial setup.  Single player games will be playable offline and disc-based games will be playable with the disc inserted in the console.  The system has also been confirmed to not be region locked.

Microsoft has been pretty coy in outright confirming anything regarding the Xbox One, internet requirements and the whole borrowing/trading/selling/buying used games dealio.  They’ve been on and off about what the system does and doesn’t need and gamers have been just rallying against the system.  Now that we have some solid confirmation that the system will not be as restrictive as people have feared, it’s nice to be able to breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to this next generation of gaming without the fear of restrictions.

 

Source:  IGN

Logan’s Run remake to be scripted by Ken Levine

Award winning game developer Ken Levine, known for his work on System Shock 2 and the Bioshock franchise, will be writing the script for the upcoming Logan’s Run remake.  The film, based on the 1967 book and 1976 film both titled Logan’s Run, is set in a dystopian future where people are executed after reaching a certain age (21 or 30 in the inspiring book and film respectively) to regulate the population and resources.  No release window has been given for the film yet, but it’s exciting to have such an established storyteller on board as the film’s screenwriter.

 

Source:  Deadline

Prometheus 2 in the works

Prometheus

It’s not really a surprise that a sequel to Prometheus is in pre-production given that Prometheus was intended as the first installment of a trilogy.  Still, it’s nice to see that the story will continue.  Ridley Scott will be returning as director with the script being penned by Jack Paglen.  Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender are expected to reprise their roles.

While I’ve seen and heard a lot of negative comments about the film, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to what’s coming next.  Most complaints I’ve heard were centered on all the loose ends and unanswered questions that Prometheus left viewers with; I didn’t really understand the validity of these complaints since Prometheus wasn’t intended as a one-off.  Hopefully unsatisfied viewers will find what they’re looking for with the upcoming sequel.

 

Source:  IGN

Killer Instinct available at Xbox One launch

KI_Logo

Killer Instinct will be released as a launch title for Microsoft’s Xbox One.  The game is being developed by Double Helix and Rare.  The developers in question are the subject of much speculation as to whether they can really pull off a new title in the KI franchise.  Rare, despite being the original creator of the franchise, has done little more than produce Kinect-centric games and Avatar stuff over the past few years and much of the talent behind some of their greatest classics have long since left the studio.  I don’t really think the studio is as bad off as a lot of people suggest since Microsoft’s acquisition (I think the Viva Pinata games are quite fantastic, honestly, and Nuts and Bolts wasn’t a traditional platformer, but it was fun and unique), but it is disappointing to see what the studio has become.

Killer Instinct will have a “demo version” available at launch for players looking to try out the game.  The demo will include one playable character and will allow the individual purchase of fighters or users can purchase the entire game with the complete fighting roster.  The game feature’s Xbox One’s dynamic match making and is constantly looking for a new match, even when you’re fighting one.  This will allow gamers to enjoy more time fighting and less time in the lobby–a welcome update to a fighting game’s short matches.

 

Source:  Joystiq

The Walking Dead: 400 Days coming this summer

400days_keyart_with_infoThe next episode in Telltale’s award winning The Walking Dead game is subtitled 400 Days and will be heading to pretty much everything this summer.  Choices players made in previous episodes will carry over into the new game which will feature five new characters in their very own stories.  Telltale suggested that some of the characters the player meets in 400 Days might show up in Season Two with all the choices they make in the new episode also impacting that storyline.

 

Source:  Joystiq

Mirror’s Edge 2 coming when it’s ready

Another EA reveal was the highly anticipated Mirror’s Edge 2.  The teaser is composed entirely of in-game footage and it looks absolutely stunning.  The DICE-developed sequel will be released “when it’s ready.”

Garden Warfare heading to Xbox and PC

EA announced a new Plants Vs. Zombies game in a very Battlefield-esque teaser.  The game is going to be a multiplayer plant-based shooter.  It’s coming first to Xbox One with 360 and PC ports following.  No official word on PlayStation releases, but it’s likely they will follow the PC release.

Far Cry Classic heading to XBLA

Microsoft’s digital distribution platform will be the home to the re-release of the first Far Cry game under the banner Far Cry Classic.  This re-release is heading to XBLA for 560 Microsoft Points ($7) this summer; Ubisoft is describing it as the “ultimate console version.”  This re-release of the classic open-world game is going to boast updated visuals featuring  “stunningly realistic foliage” and “real-time day and night cycles.”  No word yet on a PS3 release.

 

Source:  EGMNOW

A Link Between Worlds trailer

The sequel to A Link to the Past now has a title:  The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.  This sequel to the beloved SNES title is heading exclusively to Nintendo’s 3DS this November.