Hellgate London is predictably a BEAST

Ok this is just a short post to warn any of you addicts out there craving a fix. Hellgate London is a ride that only the experienced gamer should be taking. Do not take this warning lightly. It will test the limits of your system, especially if you don't have a brand spankin new graphics card that supports Active X 10. On top of that they have really gone for a recreation of the Diablo and Diablo 2 realms so that they can keep you collecting, upgrading and crafting for ALL ETERNITY!

On the plus side I have a really cool rocket launcher and I'm only level 10 :)

But seriously folks, don't plug in unless your ready to face the time stealing, hot poker eyes from your girlfriend, parents wondering what happened to you for the last few months, unshakable "I need a fix" feeling that emanates from the Hellgate.

I am the incarnation of Aunt Flow

Once a month isn't that bad for a blog, .. or is it? I guess if it's something you dread, that changes your life irrevocably (like dear old Aunt Flow) then once a month might be considered too often.

Regardless we're here with a couple little tidbits for you dear reader.

---

BIOSHOCK

---

Recently I had the pleasure of playing this years premier first person shooter. I hesitate to call it just a first person shooter because it contained so much more than that. A lot of players and writers agree that the simple dedication illustrated in the art, style and story of Bioshock have made it a next_gen game.

From the moment the curtains open on a mysterious flight and a convoluted main character you are teased and coaxed into a world that is definitely not your own, or is it? Memories, or ghost sightings, friends or enemies, little children or horrible monsters? You are left to decide what is real and what is malleable. You can choose some of the outcome of the game, and even though it's a small choice the moral weight it carries lifts this game into a realm of great interactive storytelling.

Now as difficult as it is to put aside the fantastic plot, with its twists and seeming dead ends, to do justice we must look at the mechanics of the game as well. I don't want this to turn into some formal process, but the choice of weapons (which go back to the surreal 40's 50's style armaments) are key. Having the ability to upgrade these weapons for different effects, and also use different kinds of ammunition, adds so much to the game mechanics. On top of that, you have your Plasmids, which are tied very closely to the storyline. They may appear to be just another form of magic, but the science fiction that draws you into the story proves that ADAM is more than myth and magic. If that doesn't make sense to you, then take my explanation as just another attempt to make you go out and buy BIOSHOCK. You won't be disappointed.

2kGames Bioshock Website

We're BAAACK!

The future is an uncertain thing. It's like a liquid soup of destiny that can slip through your grasp as you reach for your goals, desires and dreams. However if you learn to cup your hands together you can dip into your future and drink deeply.

Here at Working Title, or www.3dgamer.blogspot.com we cup our hands together and bow our heads as a sign of respect and apology.

We had a small community of enthusiastic writers that wanted to create something fun, something worthwhile, something all about video games. But we reached out too far, we dug too deep and our attempt at a new and interesting source of gamer news failed.

So now I am probably the soul surviving writer that will continue on here.

I'd like to establish this as a PC gaming blog, but I know I will touch on more than that .. like awesome webcomics, other systems and all the delicious paraphernalia that feeds the typical geek's addictions.

Like Nintendo's "Blue Ocean" strategy that won them so much acclaim for the Wii, we'll cover a lot that's out there and maybe some stuff that's not, appealing to a market that's huge, because it doesn't exist ... yet.

For now I'll thank anyone that takes the time to, come and glance at old posts, and comment on new things that peak their interest. Hopefully you'll see some content that will make you want to return.

We have moved to B4NG.com

Dear visitors,

This blog has now been transfered to its own domain at B4NG.com, please go to http://www.b4ng.com for future updates and fresh content.

Thank You,

Working Title Staff

Gran Turismo HD Concept - Launch date and details

GT HD will be available as a free download for the PS3 system and will be made available on December 24th. It's essentially just GT4 with totally revamped graphics for the PS3 console, aka, 1080p visuals. Interestingly enough, it will be available for the North American market, unlike the original GT Concept titles from years back which were only available in Europe and Japan.

According to Sony and Kazunori Yamauchi, this title is intended to be a glimpse into the future of the Gran Turismo series.

Players will have access to the Eiger Nordwand course in forward and reverse which will be playable as a time trial. Meeting certain goals will unlock the first 10 cars of the game and players will get to unlock them again with some performance tuning. The game will also include the drift mode that was initially planned for Gran Turismo 4 but nixed on the final release. Drift Trial mode will score players based on drift angles, racing lines, and speed for each of the evaluation zones on the course. The point total for all the zones will go towards the player's rankings.

Players will be able to use the Playstation Network to upload lap times and view rankings based on car and mode as well as share replays. Sadly, online play will not be available on this title.

Sony has also provided a list of the available cars in game. These will be available stock and tuned.

• 1995 Suzuki Cappucino
• 1989 Mazda Eunos Roadster
• 2004 Honda Integra TYPE R
• 1996 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV GSR
• 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe
• 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX GSR
• 2005 Lotus Elise 111R
• 1994 Nissan SKYLINE GT-R Vspec II
• 1995 Toyota Celica GT-FOUR Rally Car
• 2006 Ferrari 599

Sadly, it seems that GT HD Concept is going to be nothing more than a tech demo showing off the visual prowess of the PS3 console. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot on the plate here, and this is probably just meant to hold off the crowds until GT5 is officially released. No word yet on the release of GT5, but considering the delays to GT4, I'd expect it to launch no sooner than the end of 2007 - if even that soon. Kaz is a perfectionist when it comes to the GT titles, and if GT4 is any indication, he will delay it as much as possible in order to release the best racing sim he can.

Besides that, I'm not particularly looking forward to GT HD Concept as it just doesn't have much to offer in terms of gameplay and replay value. I'm sure the lucky few hardcore GT fans that actually have a PS3 will be excited, but for everyone else... you probably won't be missing a whole lot. I'd say stick with your PS2, some component cables, and play GT4 in 1080i.

Since I am sitting here talking about Gran Turismo, I may as well forward you on to GTPlanet.net - the largest online community dedicated to the Gran Turismo franchise.

Microsoft Extends 360 Warranty

Merry Christmas, Xbox 360 gamers.

Effective immediately, Microsoft has extended the Xbox 360's inadequate 90-day warranty to a full-year for units purchased in the US and Canada. If you experience hardware issues (it happens) within the first year of ownership, you can have it repaired at no cost.

This warranty will also apply to those who have already purchased a 360 and are within the first year of the warranty period; good to know because I bought my 360 two weeks ago. What's more, this policy is retroactive--if you've paid Microsoft for repairs within the warranty period, you will be eligible for reimbursement of the repair charges. Customers who have paid for repairs within the first year can expect reimbursement cheques for the amount of their console repair in approximately 10 weeks.

Contest: Xbox Live Multiplayer Mayhem Month

Want to win free stuff? Maybe some Microsoft points or some Xbox 360 accessories? How about an HD TV and an Xbox 360 HD-DVD player or even a trip to Ubisoft Montreal to see how its all done? Most likely in an effort to take over the gaming world or destroy sales for the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3, Xbox Canada is launching Multiplayer Mayhem Month starting Dec 26th. Every day for a month 10 Xbox Live Gold members will win prizes just for playing multiplayer games online. Since every Xbox 360 Premium package sold in Canada around this time is a holiday bundle, it comes with Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged which offers 1 free month on Xbox Live with a gold membership. Microsoft might be hoping that the contest will encourage gamers to sign-on with that free membership and give their Xbox Live service a try, as if the sale increases from Gears of War hasn't already been enough. But who can blame them for trying, we Canadians love free stuff!

There is a catch it, based on the contest website only Canadian gamers are being targeted. Also, it seems that specific games have been selected that you SHOULD be playing if you want to win, and Gears of War is not one of them. This is a smart move by Microsoft as it will encourage players to play some of the other titles online however people who bought the holiday bundle in Canada won't be able to participate heavily as most of the games listed are not sold with the bundle. So either rent them or buy them if you want to increase your chances of winning.

Good Luck!