Mature Gaming » 2010

MG Videogame Awards 2010

gazzara — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:30:25 +0000

I think we can all agree that 2010 has been a stellar year for videogames. We have seen robust additions to existing franchises, some uber value DLC and some brand new IP that have rocked your world.

With 2010 at an end, heralding in a new year of gaming, it is time for MG to honour the releases of this year and give praise to the titles that have risen to the top of the pile.

PS3 game of the year – Heavy Rain

Sony’s experiment in narrative utterly blew away most of the PS3 competition this year with a rip roaring success that put an interactive movie based game firmly on the map.

360 game of the year – Halo Reach

We love Halo and were weeping, yet strangely excited when Bungie’s final hoorah was just about to make an appearance. We feared a let down but how wrong we all were as Bungie and Microsoft unleashed what is arguably, the greatest Halo game ever.

Nintendo game of the year – Super Mario Galaxy 2

Mario’s return to the Wii can only be heralded as one of the standout moments of a year full of casual pap with near perfect level design, compelling gameplay and ever beautiful graphics. If you own a Wii then you need to own this game!

Best shooter – Battlefield Bad Company 2, Halo Reach, Call Of Duty Black Ops

It was very hard to pick a clear winner this year and this was reflected in the votes that you have put in. All three titles have their pluses and each have a few niggles but you cannot deny that each will be played for a long time. 2010 was kick ass for the shooter with Battlefield: Bad Company 2 making its presence felt and eating into COD’s domination with some huge maps, cover degredation and a well supported (free maps anyone!) multiplayer environment.

Halo Reach blew up this year bringing a return to form which took all the good from the other Halo titles and stuck them directly into Bungie’s final Halo game. Oh yeah, the website tracking is awesome too!!

Call Of Duty: Black Ops? Well, it’s Call Of Duty isn’t it. No matter how hard you try and get away from it, you always end up playing them. Black Ops has beaten records and is a fine example of a Call Of Duty title well made.

Best RPG – Mass Effect 2

This genre was very hotly contested this year with a tonne of great RPG/adventure titles available. Some may say that this was the game of the year on a lot of people’s lists and rightly so. There were very big challenges to Mass Effect 2′s crown in the name of Fallout: New Vegas and Red Dead redemption and Alan Wake coming close but with Mass Effect 2′s sprawling, epic world, engaging storylines and deep gameplay made this your RPG pick of 2010.

Best sports – Fifa 11

Year after year, EA Sports do just enough to keep this football game ahead of the pack. The one time pretender to Pro Evo has now realised potential and climbed to the top of the tree. You all play it, we all love it which is why Fifa 11 has been voted by you for the behst sports game of 2010. If next year we can say the same remains to be seen but at the moment, it hangs on in there.

Best action – Just Cause 2

Open world, sandbox games were in full effect this year but hugely under rated Just Cause 2 with its intuitive gameplay, crazy stunts and massive explosions got your vote for best action game of 2010.

Best racing – Need For Speed Hot Pursuit

Hands up who thought that Criterion’s take on the Need For Speed world would be a huge letdown? How wrong we all were. Criterion promised to take the game back to its roots – we all laughed but then Criterion delivered in what has to be one of the most addictive high speed racers ever. With the addition of Autolog to track friends progress and try to beat them, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit stood head and shoulders above the rest as the greatest racer of last year

Best other – Limbo

Though there have been many great downloadable games across all platforms this year, Limbo stands out for its arresting art style, clever puzzles and haunting set-pieces – as well as great gameplay that served as a welcome reminder of how much fun simple games can be.

Best single player experience – Red Dead Redemption

Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar excelled itself once more with this compelling open-world title set in the American Old West. It wove a funny and entertaining story into go-anywhere gameplay, adding a hefty chunk of quality downloadable content on top. Red Dead Redemption was a living, breathing slice of the American West that paid homage to its cinematic ancestors via fantastic gunplay, a compelling story and a breathtaking visual grandeur and deserving of your vote.

Best multiplayer experience – Halo Reach

What’s not to love about the Halo Reach multiplayer. All the best of previous titles rolled into one package that excels in every area. Map customisation, fluid movement, balanced online experiences and a hell of a laugh with custom gametypes supported by one of the most extensive tracking systems in a game made Halo Reach you best multi player experience by far.

Best co-operative experience – Halo Reach

Four player co-operative campaign with the ever popular firefight attached. Another stamp of quality for Bungie’s final Halo game.

Publisher/Developer of the year – Bungie

Well, you can see the pattern emerging can’t you? Taking up a big scoop of our awards, it only seems fitting that your 2010 vote for developer/publisher of the year goes to Bungie. They have admitted that they put their heart and soul into this title and it shows in every area including the community that follows them so.

Biggest let down – Medal Of Honor, Kane and Lynch 2

Medal Of Honor was massively hyped in 2010. We hyped it too after our experiences with it at an EA showcase and although the title was not what you were expecting, you felt Medal Of Honor was no COD killer. The story was great but it was finding itself hard to define in the multiplayer area and that was enough for you to vote. Kane and Lynch 2, however, was a title that had big hopes attached to it. The first one was poorly designed with too many bugs but with great potential. Unfortunately, that potential was not realised in the follow up with the same game breaking bugs emerging again.

MG’s Ultimate Game Of The Year – Halo Reach

And so, with so many games to choose from and some great games that were released this year that failed to get a mention you have opted for Halo Reach to be your Ultimate Game of 2010. I think the amount of votes in other categories has helped channel your votes into one hugely popular piece of sci-fi shooting. Basically, a master class in terms of online play, campaign modes and customisation had you all screaming for the Halo franchise once more.

Editor’s Choice – Enslaved

This for me was a really hard decision as my two logical choices were neck a neck and I could not decide between Enslaved and Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood. ACB had a hell of a lot going for it and before it was released was felt that maybe it could have been DLC. Instead, Ubisoft have created a full on game that enhances Assassin’s Creed II with a good dollop of addictive multiplayer attached. I am still playing it now.

Enslaved on the other hand proved that if you are prepared to take a risk on new IP then the rewards can be great. Enslaved, for me created one of the first true great narratives that closed the gap between Hollywood and the gaming industry. Written by Alex Garland and fully motion captured, Enslaved provided a visually spectacular post apocalyptic world, with stunning set pieces, fluid control systems ala Uncharted with deep engaging gameplay. For me, Enslaved just gets the not because of the fact that Namco Bandai were prepared to take that risk.

MG Community Award – Ch8rt and Nicksaints

It has been a fun time for all during 2010 and a lot has gone on in the community and online as we grow ever stronger. Some people come, some leave, some post about everything and some seem to be just another member that joined with no conversation which is a shame. One thing though that cannot be denied is the dedication that Nick and Ch8rt have brought to this community in 2010.

Nick is, has, and I hope always will be the backbone of the community spirit. He posts away, gets involved, creates leagues and comps for you all to get involved in and is the glue to your MG world. Never once when things have not been supported to the end has he gone off the rails although his disappointment and frustration will show from time to time. It takes a hell of a lot of work to put these things together and Nick has always bore the brunt of this to keep it enjoyable.

Ch8rt has also been recognised this year for his effort on getting more of the competitions together with Nick and although is a really busy man (I mean really busy too) still has put in the time to team up with Nick and work together on some fabulous projects. The BTCC Forza league has to be the stand out of their dedication to giving you the best that MG has to offer and long may it continue. Nick, Ch8rt – the community voted for you both and rightly so. We all just want to thank you for a bloody hard job well done in what you have both achieved. People don’t give the appreciation you both deserve sometimes so I think everyone will agree that this award will hopefully go some way to repairing that.

F1 2010 patch on the way

gazzara — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:01:29 +0000

Codemasters have today confirmed via their forums that a patch for their F1 title has been completed and is now in the hands on Sony and Microsoft to complete certification.

A Codemasters spokesperson wrote on the official forums:

“The team have been hard at work and as a result we have now completed all internal testing on the patch.

“The patch is now in submission with Microsoft and Sony for all 3 platforms, and once this process has been successfully completed the patch will be released, ready for you to download. Keep an eye out on the forums, facebook, and twitter, as we’ll let you know as soon as it’s ready to download. ”

F1 2010 looks great but the problematic bugs that appeared have got a lot of gamers putting it back on their shelves to collect dust. Corrupt game save bugs as well as the pit lane one will be included in the patch along with other niggles that have plagued the title.

F1 2010 patch in the works

gazzara — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 10:13:36 +0000

Codemasters have released an announcement that will sure calm down unhappy F1 fans regarding the issues with F1 2010 that was released on Friday.

In a post on their community forums, the Company said

“We can confirm that we intend to create and release a patch for F1 2010.

“This thread will be updated with information as we move through development, testing and release. It will take some time, and sometimes there will even be no news while work is going on, but we’ll do our best to keep you as updated as we can. We do appreciate your patience – and your feedback to date.”

Obviously, this issues are quite big and will take some time so do not expect an immediate fix but it must be good news to know that Codemasters are at least trying to resolve the various issues with the game.

F1 2010 released this week

gazzara — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 13:17:20 +0000

F1 2010, the official game of the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, is set to be a 2 million unit worldwide launch when it races off the starting grid this week.

Representing Codemasters’ biggest release to date, F1 2010 is now shipping to retail stores in North America and will release across mainland Europe and PAL territories on Thursday 23rd September with a UK street date on Friday 24th September for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC ; the PC edition is also available as a digital download from multiple online services.

Marking ship week, Codemasters has today released the official F1 2010 launch trailer video, now showing at www.formula1-game.com and www.facebook.com/formula1game. From Monaco to Monza and Singapore to Silverstone, each of the circuits from the sensational 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship feature in the video, as stars including Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton race wheel-to-wheel for motorsport’s most prestigious prize. The launch trailer also showcases the dynamic weather effects, fully motion captured pit stops and dramatic night-racing which will take players closer to the sport than ever before.

F1 2010, the official game of Formula One, includes all of the official teams, drivers and circuits featuring in this season’s thrilling competition. The game can be enjoyed in an extensive career mode, a range of quick-fire races and time trials or full Grand Prix weekends. Players will experience the unique sensation of racing motorsport’s most advanced cars at the world’s finest circuits, in single player and 12-player online multiplayer modes.

Designed and created by Codemasters Studios Birmingham, F1 2010 was developed using the EGO Game Technology Platform, an evolution of the engine that powered the critically acclaimed, million-plus selling Colin McRae: Dirt 2 and Race Driver: Grid. The under-the-hood technology has been tuned to simulate the unique aerodynamics and handling of 200MPH+ Formula One cars to give players an authentic and adrenaline charged race experience.

New F1 2010 video arrives

gazzara — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:13:18 +0000

Showcasing the stunning lighting effects featured in F1 2010, the new gameplay video features the full 24 car grid taking on the spectacular Singapore night race.

For the first time in a FORMULA ONE videogame, players will experience night racing in high-definition as they go wheel-to-wheel on the city streets, set against a backdrop of fireworks and skyscrapers. F1 2010, powered by the award-winning EGO engine, authentically recreates the effect of the circuit’s hundreds of thousands of individual light sources as stars including Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel take on one of the most dramatic events on the FORMULA ONE calendar.

The video also showcases the world’s finest racing drivers slicing and dicing at Yas Marina. The 2010 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX is shown as the race takes place at dusk, highlighting the unique atmosphere at the circuit set to host the final round of the thrilling 2010 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP^TM.

F1 2010, the official game of FORMULA ONE, will include all of the official teams, drivers and circuits featuring from this season’s thrilling competition. The game can be enjoyed in an extensive career mode, a range of quick-fire races and time trials or full GRAND PRIX^TM weekends. Players will experience the exhilaration of racing motorsport’s most advanced cars at the world’s finest circuits, in single player and online multiplayer modes.

In production at Codemasters Studios Birmingham, F1 2010 is being developed on the EGO^TM Game Technology Platform, an evolution of the engine that powered the critically acclaimed, million-plus selling Colin McRae: DiRT 2 and Race Driver: GRID. The under-the hood technology has been tuned to simulate the unique aerodynamics and handling of 200MPH+ FORMULA ONE cars, taking players closer to the sport than ever before.

F1 2010 will be released September 24th* 2010 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Games for Windows.

September 24th UK street date. Shipping across North America on September 22nd and releasing September 23rd across EPAC territories.

UFC Undisputed 2010 Lesnar Vs Carwin trailer

gazzara — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:12:38 +0000

The weekend just gone has seen one of the biggest fights in UFC history happen when Brock Lesnar faced off against interim heavyweight champion, Shane Carwin to decide the real Championship.

I have to tell you that it was one hell of a fight so if you haven’t seen it then you may want to check it out. As part of the ongoing plans for the UFC Undisputed 2010 game you can download the fight card via the game and recreate history as shown in the trailer below.

Mature-gaming.com had the chance to review UFC Undisputed 2010 and this is what we thought.

Formula 1 2010 track and cars developer diary

gazzara — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:58:29 +0000

The virtual recreation of motorsport’s most advanced racing cars and challenging circuits comes under the spotlight in the latest F1 2010 developer diary, released today by Codemasters and available to view below.
The new video takes viewers behind the scenes at F1 2010 developers, Codemasters Birmingham, and shows how all of the cars and circuits from the exhilarating 2010 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP have been painstakingly recreated in the game.

To deliver fans the most authentic FORMULA ONE experience, CAD (Computer Aided Design) data and extensive reference photography has been used to accurately simulate the 19 circuits that will host the 2010 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. Once tracks are created, former FORMULA ONE driver Anthony Davidson, who is working as Technical Consultant on F1 2010, gives his feedback from a driver’s perspective about the look and feel of each circuit in-game.

“Driving the real world circuits enables me to give that impression to the guys creating the game,” said Davidson. “There’s all these details that only a driver would know about. For instance, turn eight in Spa; I know straight away any car I have ever driven there always understeers and it’s knowing that kind of detail as a driver that you can get over into the game. The circuits feel really spot on.”

The developer diary goes on to explain how the appearance and performance of each individual FORMULA ONE car is authentically recreated, so even slight differences in design between the teams, such as a variation in wheel-base, are reflected in the handling of the car on the track. This will ensure that no two teams in the game will deliver the same driving experience.

The video also details how Codemasters has captured the engine sounds of actual FORMULA ONE cars during test sessions to deliver the unmistakable, intoxicating roar of the world’s most exciting sports cars.

Ubisoft E3 2010 Press Conference part 4

gazzara — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:22:50 +0000

The final part of the Ubisoft E3 press conference featuring Driver: San Francisco.

Ubisoft E3 2010 Press Conference part 2

gazzara — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:16:50 +0000

The second part of Ubisoft’s E3 2010 press conference featuring Shaun White’s Skateboarding.

Ubisoft E3 2010 press conference part 1

gazzara — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:11:29 +0000

The first part of the Ubisoft press conference featuring Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood.