Captain America: Super Soldier Development Dossier

Leading up to the release of the Captain America: Super Soldier video game, Sega and Next Level Games are releasing behind the scenes dossiers detailing the development cycle of the game.  In this, the third dossier, we hear from Brandon Gill, the Game Director at Next Level Games.  He discusses the challenges of bringing Captain America to the world of video games.

Captain America: Super Soldier is scheduled for release on July 19, 2011 for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, & DS and October 25, 2011 for the 3DS.

Captain America: Super Soldier – Dossier 3 – Captain America

Written by Brandon Gill, Game Director, Next Level Games

Being a developer based in Canada, it was a bit daunting when we first approached the character of Captain America. After reading Brubaker’s Winter Soldier, we all gained a better understanding of the character as someone who always stands up for what they believe in. It’s definitely an universal theme that anyone can get behind, and we found it to be quite inspiring.

           The fact that Captain America is also a human in peak condition also made it a little easier to start our early prototyping. There was no need to create flying or teleporting mechanics, and we were able to focus in on what makes him so appealing as an action hero.

We started with a solid, grounded combat system focusing on multiple enemies and close quarters techniques. Once we had something that felt really good as a game, we started to layer on the Cap flavor. More acrobatic moves, powerful strikes and of course we worked the Shield into every possible thing that we could find.

The shield was an interesting weapon concept to design for. Since we had our combat worked out first, we started brainstorming all the places where we could add more “shield moments”.

 

It quickly became a way to strike both close-up and from a distance. On defense it became the way to defend against close attacks and even counter-attack incoming ranged threats.

     It became a very organic part of the game-play rather than being limited to one or two buttons. It factors in to almost all of the player’s abilities throughout the course of the game.

 

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E3 2011: Memorex Unveils Family Friendly Gaming Accessories

At E3 2011, where high-action shooters and scantly clad booth babes line the aisles, it would be easy to miss a booth or press release focused on Family-Friendly gaming.  Now that the big announcements and hype are out of the way, here are some new Memorex products worth having a look at.

“From the latest in motion controllers and racing wheels to cutting-edge chargers and cases, Memorex is helping families enhance their gaming experience with user-inspired products at a price that won’t hurt the pocketbook,” said Erica Danielski, Memorex global brand manager. “Whether your family members are gaming gurus or new to the gaming arena, Memorex gaming accessories enhance at-home or on-the-go family gaming experiences and help create memorable WeTime family moments.”

While the “WeeTime” message might be lost on some of us, getting sick gaming gear for great prices is certainly something of interest to me.

Here’s the new product roll-out:

With its rubberized grips and concave buttons, the Memorex Motion Gaming Controller for PlayStation® 3 is fully compatible with PlayStation Move™ games and allows for a full range of motion, giving gamers the most comfortable, realistic gaming experience possible.  Featuring a high-gloss black finish and cool blue LEDs to help you game in style, the Motion Gaming Controller makes it easy for every member of the family to play. MSRP: $39.99

The ideal companion to the Motion Gaming Controller, the Sidekick Gaming Controller for PlayStation® 3 is a must-have for family gaming. Featuring cool blue LEDs, rubberized grips, concave buttons, a 360-degree directional pad and a high-gloss black finish, the Sidekick Gaming Controller offers a significant range of motion and hours of fun for family gamers.  MSRP: $19.99

The Memorex Universal Game Selector Case for Nintendo® DS™ is compatible with all Nintendo DS consoles and helps families avoid losing their games while making it easy to switch between titles. The innovative design enables players to store and switch between up to three games without removing the cartridges from the storage compartment. Powered by the console with no batteries needed, this product provides a true plug and play experience. MSRP: $19.99

One of the lightest standard size controllers in the marketplace, the Memorex Game Controller Plus for Nintendo® Wii™ features integrated MotionPlus™ technology without the need for an adaptor. Ergonomically designed, the controller’s perforated grips and rubberized 360-degree directional pad allow for a more comfortable and responsive gaming experience, while LED backlighting and stylish colors add a modern touch. Available in black, metallic pink and metallic blue.  MSRP $29.99

The Memorex Wireless Sidekick Gaming Controller for Nintendo® Wii™ features an integrated rechargeable battery and provides a fully wireless gaming experience with any Nintendo Wii game requiring a Nunchuk™. Ergonomic grips add comfort to the gaming experience, while LED backlighting adds an element of style. Available in black, metallic pink and metallic blue.  MSRP $24.99

For additional information, visit the Memorex website or Facebook Fan Page.

 

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It’s always exciting to see a new IP get the Lego treatment.  When the announcement was first made, I could imagine a Lego Jack Sparrow swaggering around the deck of a Lego Pirate Ship.  It appears that Traveler’s Tales (Tt Games) has done it again.  This new trailer is focused on only the first film – The Curse of the Black Pearl.

It is implied that we will be seeing additional trailers relating to the other three movies as we get closer to the May 10, 2011 release date.  We have also been treated to some new screenshots included in the gallery below.

Lego Pirates of the Caribbean will be available on Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, DS, 3DS and Wii.

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3DS To Have Netflix, Free AT&T HotSpots And Classic Virtual Console

GDC 2011 is brining us more reasons to want a Nintendo 3DS.  Nintendo announced during Satoru Iwata’s keynote presentation at GDC 2011 that Netflix is coming to the 3DS.  Also, Reggie Fils-Aime revealed that 3D movie trailers will be available on the handheld.  As with other NetFlix players, the movie can be stopped on one device and picked up from that point on another device.  Streaming to multiple devices simultaneously is also supported if you have the bandwidth for it.

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Lego Pirates Of The Caribbean To Invade Nintendo 3DS

In May 2011, Lego and Tt Games will bring Lego Pirates of the Caribbean to Nintendo’s new 3DS with eye popping 3D graphics and several other features exclusive to the 3DS.

“The Nintendo 3DS lets players experience a LEGO game like never before, and allows us to add new depth to the Pirates of the Caribbean universe,” said Adam Sussman, senior vice president of publishing, Disney Interactive Studios. “The game incorporates new features such as the Pirate Duel system and high resolution 3D effects to deliver fun and clever gameplay that fans of the LEGO series expect.”

The game will be released simultaneously on Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, and DS platforms in conjunction with the release of the new movie Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in May 2011.  All four films will be covered in the game.

Here is a peek at what’s in store.

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